A bipartisan Senate delegation is set to travel to Rome this Saturday to pay their respects at the funeral of Pope Francis. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, expressed her sentiments regarding this significant event, stating, “It is a tremendous honor to be selected to lead this bipartisan delegation of United States Senators to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and pay our respects to his life and legacy.”
The delegation will include prominent Democratic Senators such as Dick Durbin from Illinois and Ed Markey from Massachusetts, alongside Republican Senators Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Eric Schmitt of Missouri. This group represents the first official congressional delegation to announce their plans to attend the pope’s funeral. Additionally, members of the House of Representatives have also shown interest in traveling to Rome for this solemn occasion.
Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday following a stroke, had faced various health challenges in recent years. His influence on global issues, including social justice and climate change, has made a lasting impact. Notably, in 2015, he became the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress, marking a historic moment in the relationship between the Vatican and the United States.
As the world prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis, tens of thousands of mourners have gathered to view him lying in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica, showcasing the profound respect and admiration many hold for him. The funeral is expected to draw a significant international presence, including several heads of state, among them former President Donald Trump, who will be making his first foreign trip since the onset of his second administration.
This historic event not only highlights the unity of U.S. lawmakers from both parties but also underscores the global reverence for Pope Francis and his contributions to humanity. The bipartisan delegation reflects a moment of solidarity during a time of mourning for a leader who touched lives across the globe.
