The Prince of Wales will be at Pope Francis' funeral. Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince William will attend the service on behalf of his father, King Charles. Similarly Charles, then-the Prince of Wales, attended Pope John Paul II's funeral mass in 2005, instead of his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
Pope Francis' funeral mass is scheduled to take place on the parvis of Saint Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, April 26.
Prince William's father and stepmother, Queen Camilla, met with the late pope less than two weeks before His Holiness' passing. During their state visit to Italy earlier this month, Their Majesties privately reunited with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City on their 20th wedding anniversary (April 9).
"Che occasione speciale! A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday," the royal family's official Instagram captioned a photo from the meeting. "The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person."
Pope Francis died of a stroke, coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse on April 21. In a message following the pope's passing, King Charles said: "My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry."
"His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others," Charles continued. "His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many."
His Majesty also shared that he and Camilla were "greatly moved to have been able" to recently see the late pope. King Charles said, "The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month. We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ."