Following news of Pope Francis’ death, President Trump has shown that he and First Lady Melania Trump will be attending the Pope’s funeral at the Vatican despite his late Catholic leader and somewhat controversial history.
Traditionally, papal funerals were held four to six days after death, so Francis’ funerals are scheduled to take place by the end of the month. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters that the Cardinals general congregation occurred Tuesday morning, during which time the exact date of the funeral should be determined.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome,” Trump posted on the Truth Social on social media platforms on Monday afternoon. “We look forward to being there!”
Pope Francis’ funeral will be a simplified version of past papal funerals, following changes in the Pope’s funeral
Pope Francis will meet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Apostles Palace in the Vatican City on May 24, 2017. (Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Following Trump’s announcement that he would travel to Rome for the ceremony, another announcement he made earlier in the day, he showed that he ordered all American flags on government grounds, including military installments and embassies overseas, and ordered them to fly with half staff until sunset on Monday.
The longstanding relationship between Trump and Pope Francis was prominent due to ideological differences and sometimes tensions.
During Trump’s first inauguration, Pope Francis criticized one of Trump’s signature campaign promises to build a wall along the southern border, calling the “non-Christian” move in 2016.
Pope Francis and the US President: Looking back on his legacy with the leaders of the country
According to a translation from the Associated Press, Francis told reporters in a 2016 mid-flight interview on his way to Mexico, “When it comes to building a wall, it’s not about building a bridge wherever you are, but not a Christian.”
Pope Francis criticized President Trump’s massive deportation plan on Sunday in an interview calling it “disgrace.” (Photo by Tigiana Fabi/AFP)
Meanwhile, Trump fought back at the Pope’s remarks and argued that questioning the faith of others was “disgrace” to the Pope, or the religious leaders in question.
“If the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, as everyone knows, if it is the ultimate trophy of ISIS, then the Pope can promise that he prayed that Donald Trump was president because this didn’t happen.” “ISIS would have been eradicated, unlike what’s going on right now in all of our stories, politicians of action.”
Trump, world leaders respond to Pope Francis’ death
During Francis’ life, he sought to increase nationalist sentiment around the world.
Francis also believed that climate change would create a major problem for society. In both Trump’s first and second terms, he pulled the United States out of the International Paris Climate Agreement, an international initiative aimed at mitigating global warming.
Pope Francis meets with his wife, Melania, daughter Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner with President Donald Trump of the United States at the private library at the Apostles Palace. May 24th, 2017, Vatican City
Trump, who considers himself a Christian but not a Catholic, only met Francis once in his first term. In contrast, Joe Biden, a confirmed Catholic, met with Francis on multiple occasions through his single-term presidency.
JD Vance, Trump’s vice president, Catholic himself, was one of the Pope’s last visitors, especially the Pope, who saw him on Easter Sunday a day before Francis passed.
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Fox News Digital contacted the White House for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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