Wetang’ula to Represent Kenya at Pope Francis’ Burial in Rome
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will travel to Rome to represent Kenya at the burial of Pope Francis, which will take place on Saturday, April 26, at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
While speaking during a visit to the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi, where he led a delegation of Members of Parliament to offer their condolences, Wetang’ula disclosed that President William Ruto had officially nominated him to attend the funeral on behalf of the Kenyan government and its people.
The Speaker is scheduled to leave the country this evening and will join numerous world leaders who are expected to attend the final farewell for the late Pontiff.
Some of the global dignitaries anticipated at the event include former United States President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince William of the British royal family, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer.
Others expected to be present include the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Argentina’s President Javier Milei—representing the Pope’s country of birth—and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
The burial ceremony on Saturday will mark the end of an extended period of mourning for Pope Francis, a spiritual leader remembered across the world for his deep compassion and advocacy.
Throughout his papacy, he championed the rights of migrants, the poor, the oppressed, and those affected by war, often speaking out against powerful institutions and figures.
Many of these influential global leaders will now gather to honor a man whose mission often challenged them to uphold higher moral and ethical standards.
Following his death on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 after suffering from a prolonged illness that included a serious bout of double pneumonia, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ spiritual testament. Dated June 29, 2022, the document offered guidance for his final resting place and reflected his deep humility. The late Pope had asked to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and wished for a simple tomb, placed directly in the ground with no elaborate decoration—only the name “Franciscus” inscribed.
Traditionally, the burial of a pope involves a detailed and symbolic process that includes multiple rituals.
This begins with the formal notification of the Pope’s death to the College of Cardinals and other Church authorities.
This is followed by a special nine-day mourning period known as the “Novemdiales,” during which daily Masses are held in memory of the departed Pope.
As part of Catholic tradition, the Pope’s body is washed and clothed in red and white papal vestments. It is then displayed in a public setting, allowing thousands of mourners to pay their final respects.
Since Pope Francis’ passing, crowds of faithful believers have been attending daily Masses and lining up to view his body.
Historically, popes have been buried in a sequence of three coffins. First, the body is placed in a simple cypress wood coffin to symbolize humility.
Inside this coffin, a white silk veil, a biography sealed in a lead tube, and commemorative medals and coins from the Pope’s reign are placed.
The wooden coffin is then sealed and placed within a zinc or lead coffin to symbolize the Pope’s spiritual endurance. Finally, these are enclosed in a sturdy oak coffin, decorated with a gold cross and the papal coat of arms for protection and reverence.
However, in a move that reflected his lifelong call for simplicity and reform, Pope Francis had personally approved changes to the papal funeral process.
In 2024, he endorsed a new set of rites under the “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis” (Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs).
This revised protocol eliminated the use of the traditional triple coffin. Instead, it introduced a more modest approach, using a single wooden coffin lined with zinc.
The new rites aimed to simplify and modernize the burial tradition while still maintaining its spiritual significance.
Wetang’ula’s participation in the burial of Pope Francis is seen as a significant honor for Kenya, demonstrating the country’s respect for the Pope’s legacy and commitment to strong diplomatic ties with the Vatican.
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