President Droupadi Murmu, Kiren Rijiju depart for Vatican City to attend Pope Francis’ funeral

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday departed for Vatican City to attend the funeral of Pope Francis later this week. She is accompanied by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian, and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Joshua De Souza.

The President will be on a two-day visit to the Vatican. On April 25, President Murmu will pay homage to Pope Francis by laying a wreath at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City, according to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). On April 26, she will attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s Square, alongside dignitaries from around the world.

“His Holiness Pope Francis will be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility, and spiritual courage by millions worldwide,” the MEA said in a statement.

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on April 21, according to a statement from the Vatican. He was the first Latin American pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church, having succeeded Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013.

India on Thursday declared that state mourning will be observed on April 26 in honour of the funeral of Pope Francis.