President Droupadi Murmu on Friday departed for Vatican City to attend the State Funeral of Pope Francis. Accompanying her on this visit are Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju; Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
Rijiju said that the delegation also includes Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries George Kurian and Goa's Deputy Speaker Joshua Peter De Souza.
President Droupadi Murmu will visit Vatican City for a two-day visit from April 25 - 26 to attend the State Funeral of Pope Francis and offer condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India.
Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday made the declaration through a statement, and further announced that the National flag will be flown at half-mast on the day throughout India on all buildings where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment.
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Francis Ford Coppola will be honoured with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, recognising his significant contributions to the film industry.
"The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus," Pope Francis said in his spiritual testament, dated June 29, 2022 that was published after his demise.
ultiple Hollywood stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Sylvester Stallone and others, paid tribute to the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, after his demise on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.
As speculation intensifies over who will succeed Pope Francis, predicting the outcome of the papal conclave remains challenging, as the cardinals' positions can shift with each vote.
Meanwhile, the entire country has also declared a three-day mourning as a mark of respect, according to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).