President Murmu Pays Respects to Pope Francis at Vatican Before Funeral
President Droupadi Murmu traveled to Vatican City on Friday to pay her respects to the late Pope Francis. Accompanied by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and George Kurian, President Murmu visited St. Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the Catholic Church.
The Indian delegation, which also included Goa Assembly Deputy Speaker Joshua D’Souza, joined dignitaries from around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. He died on April 21st at the age of 88 in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. His death marked the end of an era, as he was the first Latin American pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI in 2013.
India declared three days of state mourning for Pope Francis. Flags flew at half-mast across the country, and official entertainment was suspended as a sign of respect. The funeral mass, a significant global event, took place on Saturday, with President Murmu and the Indian delegation in attendance.
In the days following the funeral, Cardinals will gather in a conclave to elect the next Pope, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church.
