Wetangula To Represent Kenya At Pope Francis' Burial
This will see the Speaker join a host of notable world leaders at the burial to be held at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, is set to fly out of the country this evening to attend the burial of Pope Francis, scheduled for Saturday, April 26.
Speaking at the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi on Thursday, April 24, Wetang’ula revealed that President William Ruto had nominated him to represent the Head of State and Kenya at the solemn event.
This will see the Speaker join a host of notable world leaders at the burial to be held at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
"President William Ruto is out in China; he has nominated and instructed me to represent him at the burial of the Pope on Saturday. I'll be leaving tonight for Rome to go and join other world leaders in sending off our Pope," he said.
A photo of the late Pope Francis lying in state at the chapel of Santa Marta on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in the Vatican. /VATICAN NEWS
U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince William, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer are among the prominent global figures expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
Also set to be present are United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Argentine President Javier Milei—representing the Pope’s homeland—and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. The funeral ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Wetang'ula also emphasised Kenya's strong ties to the church, pointing out the nation's deeply ingrained spiritual beliefs and reverence for religious leaders.
"Kenya remains profoundly part of the family of progressive leadership of the Catholic Church and all churches and the fraternity of churches because at the end of the day we believe in one God," he added.
On his part, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who joined Wetangula at the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi to offer condolences following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, termed his demise a great blow to humanity.
“He was a very gentle person, he struggled to pray for the world. Each time there is trouble or problems anywhere in the world, he has been the voice of reason. He has spoken for the downtrodden and has spoken for the weakest; he spoke against injustice.
“I hope the Catholic Church gets another Pope like him. I'm not a Catholic, but I am a Christian and a friend of Catholics; that is why we have all been pained by the loss of Pope Francis. He is the first Pope from the Global South, and he exemplified the spirit of hope, reconciliation and compassion,” he weighed in.
The service will mark the culmination of nearly a week of mourning for Pope Francis, remembered for his unwavering support for migrants, the poor, the marginalized, and victims of war—stances that frequently put him at odds with some of the same global leaders expected to pay their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Following his death on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 after a lengthy battle with double pneumonia, the Vatican released his spiritual testament. Dated June 29, 2022, it expressed his wish to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, in a simple grave marked only with the name Franciscus and without elaborate ornamentation.
The burial process for a pope is steeped in ritual, involving three nested coffins and a series of deeply symbolic traditions. Upon his death, the Vatican alerted the College of Cardinals and global Catholic leadership, initiating a nine-day mourning period known as Novemdiales, during which daily Masses are held in his memory.
Before burial, the Pope’s body will be ritually washed, dressed in traditional red and white papal vestments, and placed in a solemn setting for public viewing. Since his passing, thousands of mourners have gathered to attend the memorial Masses and pay their last respects.
Read more: In Three Coffins: How A Pope Is Buried
