Georgian president to attend Pope Francis' funeral in Vatican

President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, following a decree issued by the Georgian government.

This significant decision, which grants Kavelashvili permission for a working visit to the Vatican, was confirmed by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media. 

The funeral will take place on April 25-26, and as part of the official Georgian delegation, several high-ranking officials will accompany the president. Along with Kavelashvili, the delegation will include Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Head of the President's Administration Ketevan  Kvinikadze, and a group of religious leaders from Georgia.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and one of the most consequential religious figures of the 21st century, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on April 21. 

His death ends a historic and often contentious 12-year papacy defined by sweeping reforms, internal tensions, and global outreach. The Pope’s passing came just a day after he made a brief public appearance in St. Peter’s Square to mark Easter Sunday—his first since being released from hospital on March 23 following a 38-day stay to treat double pneumonia.

By Naila Huseynova