President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are set to fly to the Vatican to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed on Wednesday, April 23.

Marcos will join other world leaders who will attend the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, 10 a.m., at St. Peter's Square.

They include Argentina’s President Javier Milei, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Prime Minister Bart De Wever of Belgium, Prince William and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Great Britain, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula da Silva of Brazil, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, and Parliament President Roberta Metsola of the European Union, President Jose Ramos-Horta and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito Freitas of East Timor, President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Tamas Sulyok of Hungary, President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, President Edgars Rinkevics of Latvia, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, President Andrzej Duda of Poland, Romania’s Interim President Ilie Bolojan, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, President Karin Keller-Sutter of Switzerland, President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy of Ukraine, and US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

'Best pope in my lifetime'

Marcos, leader of the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia, described Pope Francis as "the best pope in my lifetime."

"Ibang klase si Pope Francis (Pope Francis is different). That's really sad. I love this Pope. The best Pope in my lifetime, as far as I'm concerned," he said.

Marcos described the Pope's passing as a "profoundly sad day."

"A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten," he said.

"It is a profoundly sad day," he added.

According to Marcos, Pope Francis taught humanity to extend kindness and care to one another.

"His humility brought many back to the fold of the Church," he said.

"As we mourn his passing, we honor a life that brought hope and compassion to so many, and inspired us to love one another as Christ loved us," he added.

In February, Marcos expressed deep concern over the health of Pope Francis, following reports that the Holy Father was battling a serious illness.

Churches across the Philippines rang their bells Monday to mourn the death of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis made a historic visit to the Philippines in 2015, following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. During his visit, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral and the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas.

The Pontiff also held an emotional outdoor Mass in Tacloban City amid strong rains and winds brought about by an approaching storm.

Funeral, conclave

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David will depart for Rome on Thursday, April 24 to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and participate in the upcoming papal conclave, a historic event that will determine the next leader of the Catholic Church.

“Before the papal conclave, syempre [ang punta natin sa Rome ay] ‘yung funeral muna ng ating mahal na santo papa na magaganap sa Sabado,” David said in a GMA interview on Wednesday, April 23. (Before the papal conclave, of course, our reason for going to Rome is the funeral first of our beloved Holy Father, which will take place on Saturday).

Following the funeral, the Church will enter a period of mourning and discernment leading to the conclave. 

Traditionally, the conclave begins 15 to 20 days after a pope’s death, but the schedule may vary. 

“Nagbibilang tayo ng 15 to 20 days pagkamatay ng Santo Papa para masimulan ang conclave. Syempre nagbabago ‘yun depende sa availability ng cardinal electors na manggagaling sa iba’t ibang sulok ng daigdig,” David, who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), explained. (We count about 15 to 20 days after the death of the Holy Father before the conclave begins. Of course, that can change depending on the availability of the cardinal electors from different parts of the world).

At least two-thirds of the cardinal electors must be present for the voting process to proceed, he added.

This will be Cardinal David’s first time as a papal elector. Other electors from the Philippines are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Jose Advincula.

Public mourning begins at St. Peter's

The body of Pope Francis was moved to St. Peter’s Basilica early Wednesday to lie in state for the Catholic faithful to pay their respects.

Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, but the three days of public viewing are largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke.

Francis first lay in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed Francis lying in an open casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes, his hands folded over a rosary. The Vatican’s No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was pictured praying by Francis.

His body was transferred Wednesday morning to St. Peter’s Basilica, which will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7 p.m.

Once inside the basilica, his casket won't be put on an elevated bier — as was the case with past popes — but will just be placed on the main altar of the 16th-century basilica, simply facing the pews.

Italian police have tightened security for the viewing and the funeral, carrying out foot and horse patrols around the Vatican, where pilgrims continued to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations that Francis opened in December. The faithful who will walk through St. Peter’s Holy Door are granted indulgences, a way to help atone for sins.

‘Embrace empathy’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday joined the nation and global Catholic community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis.

In a statement, the AFP said Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church by emphasizing humility, inclusivity, and compassion.

“He led with a focus on social justice, advocating for the poor, the marginalized, and those in need,” it said.

“Beyond our grief, we honor and remember a leader whose example continues to inspire us to do better, live with purpose, and embrace empathy in our everyday actions,” it added.

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. and the entire AFP extended their condolences and stood in solidarity with all who mourn the death of the Pope. (With reports from the Associated Press, Allalyn De Vera-Ruiz, and Martin Sadongdong)