PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City, alongside other world leaders, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed on Wednesday.
In a Viber message to reporters, PCO Undersecretary Claire A. Castro said that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will also join the President.
She did not provide details regarding when Mr. Marcos and the First Lady will fly to Vatican City for the funeral.
The Pope’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. Vatican time in St. Peter’s Square.
According to the Vatican, Pope Francis died on Monday after suffering from a stroke and cardiac arrest. He was 88.
Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was elected the Supreme Pontiff on March 13, 2013. He became the first pope from Latin America and the first pontiff from the Jesuit Order.
Also on Wednesday, Malacañang issued Proclamation no. 871, declaring a period of national mourning over the death of Pope Francis, effective immediately until his burial on Saturday.
The Philippine flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings and installations throughout the country and abroad, the proclamation, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, read.— Adrian H. Halili
