President William Ruto arrived in Italy on Saturday, April 26, 2025, to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
The Head of State was received by the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, after he arrived in Rome.
Earlier, there had been reports suggesting that President Ruto had nominated Wetangula to represent him at the event since he was still in China holding bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping.
Ruto is among the 11 African Heads of State expected to be in attendance in a development that was confirmed by the Vatican.
Among other leaders set to attend the funeral are President Donald Trump and Prince William.
At least 250,000 members of the public are also expected to attend the funeral, and 170 heads of state.
Pope Francis died on April 12, 2025, at his residence due to a stroke and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse after suffering a prolonged illness.
The Pope will be buried in a simpler wooden coffin with a zinc interior as he had requested last year.
He further wished to be entombed in the Santa Maria Maggiore instead of the crypt at St Peter’s Basilica.
