As he requested before his death, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI's funeral will be very austere with only two official delegations—one from Germany and one from Italy.
However, many heads of state will come to the Mass to pay their respects. Some include: Spanish Queen Sofia and the Minister of the Presidency, Belgian King Philippe, Polish President Andrzej Duda, the Portuguese President and the French Minister of the Interior.
Hungary will be represented by its president, Katalin Novak. But she is not the first Hungarian representative as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was among the first to go to St. Peter's Basilica to bid farewell to the Pope Emeritus. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni also visited the Basilica Monday morning. President Mattarella will also be at the funeral.
From Germany, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Governor of Bavaria will also attend.
The diplomatic corps to the Holy See is also invited and will occupy a special place in St. Peter's Square near the sagrato.
Rodrigo Moreno Quicios
TR: KG
