President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos traveled to the Vatican on Thursday, April 24, 2025, to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at 88.
The president’s departure comes amid national mourning in the Philippines, a country with a large Catholic population.
To ensure government operations continue smoothly during his absence, Marcos appointed three Cabinet members as caretakers.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III will manage the government’s daily affairs until the president returns.
The Philippine government declared a period of national mourning, with the national flag flying at half-mast until Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, April 26.
President Marcos honored the late Pope Francis, calling him a “global leader of compassion and tireless advocate of peace, justice, and human dignity.”
The pope’s passing has deeply affected Filipinos, who fondly remember his 2015 visit to the Philippines.
During that visit, he held a historic Mass in Manila, attended by a record seven million people.
His death has led to many Masses and memorials across the country, highlighting the strong bond between Filipinos and the pontiff.
The Vatican has declared nine days of mourning beginning on Saturday, coinciding with the funeral.
Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, making him the first pope in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican.
The cabinet caretakers will oversee government functions during President Marcos’s absence, which is expected to last until his return after attending the funeral on April 26, 2025.
Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, making him the first pope in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican.
The caretakers will have the authority to make decisions on routine government matters and address any urgent issues that arise. However, major policy decisions or actions requiring the president’s direct involvement will likely be deferred until Marcos’s return.
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