Prince William paid tribute to the late Pope Francis at the funeral of the Catholic leader in the Vatican city on Saturday, April 26.
The Prince of Wales was 42 years old, representing the British royal family and his father, King Charles, and other royals, foreign guests and other royals from around the world attended the ceremony, including President Donald Trump.
As the heir, Charles represented his mother, Queen Elizabeth, at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. In fact, that funeral forced the Royal one day to postpone his wedding, which he and everyone else could attend.
The late Queen Elizabeth never attended the funeral of the pope, despite the fact that Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul I – died during her 70-year reign.
No one in the British royal family attended the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in 2023.
Prince William attended the funeral as the Prince of Wales took over more senior royal duties as heir to the throne. He also represents the British monarchy on December 7 to reopen the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Related: What happens after Pope Francis dies?
Antonio Masiello/Getty
Prince William (center) arrives at Pope Francis' funeral
King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, met with Francis 12 days before his death on April 9. The Royal couple were on a state visit to Italy at the time, and although their initial plan to meet with the church leaders was cancelled due to his recent health setback, they were able to convene privately. In exchange of gifts, the Pope hoped that the king and queen would celebrate their 20th anniversary, falling on the same day of their meeting.
The king made an official statement through Buckingham Palace following the news of the Pope's death on Easter Monday.
“My wife and I were very sad to learn about the death of Pope Francis,” the monarch said. “But our heavy hearts were relieved, knowing that his holiness could share Easter greetings with the Church and the Church and the world whom he dedicated in his life and ministry.”
“His holiness will be due to his compassion, his focus on the unity of the church and his unremitting commitment to the common cause of all peoples, and the unremitting commitment of the kind-hearted man who benefits others,” King Charles paid tribute to him. “He believed that caring for creation is a living expression of faith in God. Many people around the world sounded. Through his work and care for people and the planet, he deeply moved the lives of many people.”
Related: Video shows the seal of the Pope's apartment after Pope Francis' death, instantly famous in conclusion
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty
Prince William at the funeral of Pope Francis
The British monarch also recalled his numerous visits to Pope Francis over the years, adding: “We moved largely to visit him early this month.” The King and Queen’s first-time plan audience was distinguished by his holiness due to the pope’s health struggle. A few weeks ago, he stayed in double pneumonia treatment for 28 days.
Just a few days before entering the hospital, Pope Francis reflected on the elderly and “comfort certainty” in the preface Waiting for a new beginning: Thoughts on the Older People By Cardinal Angelo Scola, the honorary archbishop of Milan.
Can't people's royal reports get enough coverage? Sign up for our free royal newsletter for the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
“Saying 'old' does not mean throwing away', because a waste of a degenerate culture sometimes causes us to think.” “Saying 'old' means saying experience, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, consideration, listening, slowly.”
“Yes, one is getting older, but it's not the problem: the problem is one is getting older. If we live in life, not grace, not life with resentment; if we accept time (even a long time), we experience weakening strength, increasing physical fatigue, that is our young and old people, that's their age, then this is a person like this, it's a real maturity, it's a life like a wealthy, it's a life of maturity, it's an achievement of age, it's a life of maturity, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a goodness, it's a person of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a goodness, it's a person of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a goodness, it's a person of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a life of age, it's a goodness, it's a person of age, it's a life of being aged, it's a goodness, it's a person of being a person of being aged, it's a life of being aged, it's a goodness, it's a person of being aged, it's a
Read original articles about people
