Interim President Ilie Bolojan and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu are in Vatican on Saturday to attend the state funeral of Pope Francis.
The official Romanian delegation also includes Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu.
In Romania, Saturday will be declared a national day of mourning to honor Pope Francis’s memory. Prime Minister Ciolacu emphasized that this measure reflects “the profound respect for the total openness and constant warmth shown to Romanians” by Pope Francis.
The Pope passed away on Monday at the age of 88, and his burial will take place on Saturday at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the heart of Rome.
The funeral service will commence at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales—a mourning tradition featuring daily liturgies lasting for nine days after a Pope’s death, aimed at granting peace to his soul.
Pope Francis’s tomb will be made of marble and will bear only the inscription “Franciscus” in Latin, according to the Vatican announcement.
Fifty heads of state and ten monarchs are expected to attend the funeral, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Prince William, heir to the British crown.
The government approved a resolution on Thursday declaring April 26 as a national day of mourning in Romania, coinciding with the funeral proceedings in Vatican.
“We declare a national day of mourning to honor His Holiness Pope Francis. This decision reflects our deep respect for his openness and the constant warmth he provided to Romanians. Like all Christians, we felt his presence was a blessing for all humanity,” stated Prime Minister Ciolacu at the beginning of the Government meeting.
Consequently, all central and local public institutions in Romania will fly the national flag at half-mast, including the offices of political parties, trade unions, educational and cultural institutions, as well as Romania’s diplomatic missions. The flag will also be raised at border points, airports, ports, train stations, and bus terminals, as well as on vessels sailing under the Romanian flag.
Additionally, private individuals displaying the Romanian flag at their home or residence are expected to adhere to this guideline.
Radio and television stations, as well as cultural institutions, are required to adjust their programming to comply with the national day of mourning.
About Florin Tomescu
A graduate of FJSC in 2014, I have written for several well-known publications in Romania.
