President Murmu departs for Vatican City to attend Pope Francis’ funeral

President Droupadi Murmu embarked on a two-day visit to Vatican City on Friday to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 on Easter Monday.

Accompanying her are Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries George Kurian, and Goa Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Joshua De Souza, according to a statement from the President’s office posted on X.

Murmu will represent India in offering condolences during the visit. “President Droupadi Murmu departs for Vatican City to attend the State Funeral of HH Pope Francis,” the President’s secretariat announced on X.

On Friday, Murmu will lay a wreath at the Basilica of Saint Peter in homage to Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that on April 26, she will join global dignitaries at the funeral Mass held in Saint Peter’s Square.

India observed three days of national mourning following the death of Pope Francis.