The flags will be put at half mast on public buildings, Saturday April 26, the day of the funeral of Pope Francis, learned the agency France-Presse, Tuesday April 22, from Matignon.
“Following the death of Pope Francis, the government decided that the flags should be put at half mast on public buildings on the day of its solemn funeral”said the Prime Minister's services.
François Bayrou will not go to Rome for the funeral of the Sovereign Pontiff, who died on Monday, President Emmanuel Macron having announced that he would attend the funeral, the same source said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, will be part of the delegation, as well as the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau.
Many heads of state and government announced their presence on Saturday in Rome. The coffin of the Sovereign Pontiff must be transferred Wednesday morning to the Saint-Pierre Basilica in Rome, where the faithful will be able to pay him a last tribute, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. The pope's body, put in beer on Monday evening, is currently in the chapel of the Sainte-Marthe du Vatican residence, where he lived from his election in 2013, until his death.
The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. At the end of the celebration, “The coffin of the Roman pontiff will be transported to the Saint-Pierre basilica, and from there to the Basilica Sainte-Marie-Majeure, for burial”according to a Vatican press release. In his will, François said he wanted to be buried in the Sainte-Marie-Majeure basilica in a burial ” simple “,, “Without decoration”with the sole inscription his name in Latin: “Franciscus”.
Source: Lemonde