Policy
The Executive confirmed that President Bernardo Arévalo will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome, and that instead the Minister of Culture and Sports, Liwy Grazioso, will travel.
Swiss guards accompany Pope Francis’ coffin to the Basilica of San Pedro, in the city of the Vatican. The Pontiff was transferred from the chapel of the Santa Marta house to the Basilica of San Pedro to be veiled for three days. (Free press photo: EFE)
The Guatemala government confirmed on Wednesday, April 23 that President Bernardo Arévalo will not be present at the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled for next Saturday, event that will bring together world leaders such as Donald Trump, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.
Until this date, an extensive list of heads of state, government and political leaders has confirmed its assistance to the pontiff’s funeral, who died last Monday. However, the Government of Guatemala appointed as an official representative the Minister of Culture and Sports, Liwy Grazioso.
“It is correct. The President will not go to the funeral of Pope Francis. The Minister of Culture and Sports, Liwy Grazioso, will go on behalf of the Government of Guatemala,” said the Executive.
He added that Arévalo’s absence is due to agenda.
Pope Francis died last Monday, at 88, because of a stroke, after more than two months with serious respiratory problems.
The Vatican has organized three days so that the faithful can give him the last goodbye in the Basilica of San Pedro: this Wednesday and Thursday until midnight. However, the spokesman for the Holy See, Matteo Bruni, said they are “prepared” to keep the temple open beyond that time.
The burning chapel will predictably conclude on Friday, at 7:00 p.m. local (17.00 GMT), to give way to the closing of the coffin. On Saturday, after the funeral, the body of the Pontiff will be taken to the Roman Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, to be buried in a chapel, as it had in life, for being very devout of the Virgin that custody, the Salus Populi Romani.
With EFE information