Ilie Bolojan and Marcel Ciolacu. Photo: Radu Tuță / Agerpres
Interim president Ilie Bolojan and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu participate in the Vatican on Saturday, in the state funerals of his sanctity Pope Francis.
In the official delegation of Romania, which will go to the Vatican are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emil Hurezeanu.
On Saturday there will be a national mourning day in Romania in memory of Pope Francis. Prime Minister Ciolacu stated that this is a decision that proves “deep respect for the total opening and heat shown permanently by the Romanians' by Pope Francis.
The Sovereign Pontiff died on Monday, at the age of 88, and will be buried on Saturday in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in central Rome.
The funeral service will be carried out from 10:00, in Saint Peter Square, thus marking the beginning of Novemdiale (the 9 Holy Days) – an old tradition that takes place at the death of a pope involving 9 days of mourning and daily liturgies for the rest of the Sovereign Pontiff.
Pope Francis's tomb is made of marble and will carry a single inscription 'Franciscus', that is Latin Francis, the Vatican announced, according to AFP.
50 heads of state and 10 monarchi confirmed the presence at the funeral, among which are US President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian Volodimir Zelenski and the Argentine, Javier Milei, but also the heir to the British Crown.
