The decision on the participation of Russian representatives in the farewell ceremony with Pope Francis and the level of such participation will be made after determining the date of the funeral and the format of the farewell ceremony. This was stated to TASS by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko.
"First of all, the date of the funeral, the format of this farewell ceremony should be determined, and based on this information, a decision on participation will be made The Russian Federation," he said.
Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 89. A month ago, he was discharged from the hospital, where he spent almost 40 days and was treated for a complex form of pneumonia. As the doctors later reported, the pontiff risked dying twice, he was prescribed two months of complete rest, but he began to briefly leave his residence in the former Vatican hotel of St. Martha to visit St. Peter's Basilica. On Easter Sunday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church drove a papamobile through an area full of believers.
Francis himself has already described the funeral ritual, simplifying the procedures. He wished to be buried in the papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Our Lady of the Great), which he always visited for prayers, especially before and after foreign visits.
As the Vatican later informed, Pope Francis will be buried on Saturday, April 26, in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
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