European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday, Arianna Podesta, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission, said on Tuesday.
“Let me also confirm that the President (von der Leyen) will travel to Rome on Saturday to attend the funeral ceremony of His Holiness, Pope Francis,’’ Podesta told a midday briefing.
Von der Leyen may hold bilateral political meetings on the sidelines of the pontiff’s funeral in Rome, the spokeswoman added.
“The visit on Saturday is for a different reason, it is for the pope’s funeral and that is the occasion for which the President von der Leyen will be traveling in Rome.
“I cannot exclude of this time being other possible meetings, but I don’t have any meeting to announce,’’ Podesta said, adding that technical talks with the U.S. were ongoing.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. (RIA/NAN)
