Kurdistan Region's President Joins 50 Heads of State in Vatican Farewell to Pope Francis

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Presidency of the Kurdistan Region announced on Friday that Kurdistan Region's President Nechirvan Barzani will travel to Rome this evening to participate in the farewell ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis. The event, set to take place on Saturday, April 26, will be held in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and is expected to draw an unprecedented international presence, including 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs.

President Nechirvan Barzani will attend the ceremony as the official representative of both the Kurdistan Region and the Republic of Iraq, underlining the strong ties between the Vatican and the peoples of Kurdistan and Iraq. His participation also serves as a gesture of respect for the late pontiff’s legacy, whose papacy was marked by global appeals for peace, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian outreach—including his historic 2021 visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Rome, meanwhile, is preparing for one of its most elaborate security operations in years as it braces for the influx of dignitaries and mourners. Authorities have mobilized nearly 2,000 local police officers and thousands of national security personnel. Measures include drone surveillance, sniper deployments around St. Peter’s Square, river patrols on the Tiber, and road closures surrounding the Vatican. According to Rome’s Chief of Police Roberto Massucci, the most complex aspect of the operation is managing the simultaneous arrival of high-level delegations to a single, highly concentrated area.

Italian authorities have also declared a no-fly zone over the capital and set up an optimized route for the Pope’s coffin to be transported to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he wished to be buried. The public will be allowed to gather along a four-kilometer route leading to the basilica. Fabio Ciciliano, head of Italy’s National Civil Protection Department, noted that while some foreign delegations may stay briefly, most are expected to leave immediately after the funeral, presenting logistical challenges for arrivals and departures.

The Vatican formally announced Pope Francis’ passing on Monday, April 21. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, President of the Administration and Finance of the Vatican, confirmed the death, prompting a wave of tributes from religious, political, and civil leaders around the world. Since Wednesday, tens of thousands have filed past the late Pope’s open casket in St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects. The funeral is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT) on Saturday.

The funeral service for the late pontiff will be conducted in accordance with centuries-old tradition, yet infused with the modern global reverence Pope Francis commanded as a transformative figure in the Catholic Church. The city of Rome, long accustomed to grand religious ceremonies, will once again become the focus of global attention—not only during the funeral but also in anticipation of the forthcoming papal conclave, expected to begin by May 6, where the College of Cardinals will gather to elect the next pope.

President Nechirvan Barzani’s upcoming presence at the Vatican ceremony not only highlights the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to interreligious respect and international diplomacy but also reflects the enduring impact of Pope Francis’ outreach to Iraq’s diverse religious communities during his pontificate. During his groundbreaking visit to the region four years ago, the Pope delivered messages of hope, coexistence, and reconciliation from Mosul to Erbil, leaving a lasting impression on millions.

As preparations for the funeral proceed, world leaders are expected to converge on Rome to pay their final respects. The farewell ceremony, under the gaze of the global public, will be a moment of solemnity and unity—a tribute to a spiritual leader whose influence reached far beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church. President Barzani’s role at the ceremony will symbolize the shared mourning of both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for a figure who championed peace in the most troubled corners of the world.