Updated / Friday, 25 Apr 2025 00:34

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have travelled to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

The President and Mrs Higgins will pay their respects today at the lying in state of the late pontiff in St Peter’s Basilica.

They will return to St Peter’s Square tomorrow where they will join with heads of state and heads of government and their delegations from around the world in attending the funeral of Pope Francis.

President Higgins, who has met the Pope five times said he was pleased to communicate the appreciation of all the people of Ireland for “the life, the documents and the contacts to the most vulnerable all over the world…”

In a statement, he said that the world was struck by the generosity given by Pope Francis, right until the very last moments of his life, in terms of seeking to embrace all of humanity.

The President said that through his life and his work, Pope Francis led by example in embracing so many of the most important issues facing humanity.

“In particular, he was a strong advocate for the fulfilling of obligations in relation to Mother Nature and the indigenous peoples who are paying the highest price for the consequences of climate change, he was a strong spokesperson for how global poverty could be eliminated, and he gave leadership in relation to the rights of migrants.”

In attending the funeral and celebrating the life of Pope Francis, President Higgins said it was important to “stress his work on our shared humanity and on the importance of peace, sustainability and of rights”.