The unbeatable list of personalities at the Pope’s funeral: Prince Guillermo to the president of India

This Saturday the Basilica of San Pedro, in the Vatican, hosts The funeral of Pope Francis. A historical and planetary impact event that will meet in the smallest state in the world some of its most important personalities, from the president of the United States Donald Trump and endless prime ministers from the most diverse corners, to a good part of the members of the European real houses. They will be, according to the Holy See, at least 130 delegations, among which there will be “About 50 heads of state and ten reigning sovereigns”that will star in a paradoxical image, that of the most powerful dismissing the Pope who always wanted to be close to the humblest.

The act, last goodbye Jorge Mario Bergoglio after 12 years of pontificate, is scheduled for 10 am on April 26 and will be directed by the dean of the Cardenalicio Giovanni Battista Re. Before, the protocol team of the State Secretariat of the Holy See, works tirelessly to place all the guests so that any type of uncomfortable situation is avoided between them. It will be the prefect of the Pontifical House in functions, which has the position of Regent, Leonardo Sapienza, in charge of accommodating them in their corresponding places.

The plan is similar to that designed for the funeral of John Paul IIfollowing “the order of countries in the French language, with the heads of delegation sitting in alphabetical order respecting their rank.” In the first row the representatives of the Royal Houses will sit in second, the presidents, also in alphabetical order, in third the prime ministers, and then the rest of the delegations. With a particularity, because according to Vatican sources «The protocol gives priority to the presidents of Italy and Argentina»so Sergio Matella, Giorgia Meloni and Javier Milei will have a privileged position. The 83 -year -old Italian president will be present at the funeral only a few days after receiving medical discharge after placing a pacemaker. «Next, the reigning Catholic sovereigns will sit next to the Grand Master of the Malta Order. Then, non -Catholic sovereigns. And then the heads of state in alphabetical order ».

In response to these norms, the kings of Spain will be close to Felipe and Matilde de Belgica, the Grand Duke Enrique and the Grand Duchess María Teresa de Luxembourg, of the Prince Alberto and Charlène de Monaco, and the copríncipe de Andorra, Joan Enric Vives. Next to them, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, John T. Dunlap will sit. The non -Catholic kings will take seat.

The Kings will lead the Spanish delegation

The Spanish delegation in Rome will be led by kings Felipe VI and Letizia. With them, and before the controversial absence of Pedro Sánchez, the Government will represent the First Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, the Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, as well as the Minister of Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition, will also accompany them.

Further back, the Vatican has confirmed that Donald Trump will sit next to the delegations of the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

After the Mass, Pope Francis’s coffin will be transferred to the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor in Rome, to be buried according to the desire that the Pontiff left embodied in his will. The Argentine will become this way into The first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican walls From Leo XIII in 1903.

Francisco’s grave will be located in a side nave of the Basilica, near the altar of San Francisco. The grave will be in marble and will have the only registration “Franciscus.” A reproduction of the pectoral cross that the Pope carried in life will accompany the whole.

The cardinals decided on Wednesday that the traditional nine days of mourning in the Vatican after the death of a pontiff – the novelty – will begin on Saturday. The general public will be able to visit the last abode of the last pontiff from Sunday.

The Italian authorities have decreed an air exclusion zone on Rome and have deployed anti -Didish units with signal inhibition systems to prevent any suspicious activity.

Combat aircraft are on alert to intervene, while police helicopters fly over the Historic Center and snipers watch from the roofs of the Via Della Conciliazione that leads to San Pedro Square and in the nearby Janicle Hill.