The Portuguese government plans to declare three days of national mourning following the death of Pope Francis, scheduled from Thursday to Saturday, as confirmed by Luís Montenegro. He made this announcement to journalists during his visit to the construction site of the Central and University Hospital of Madeira in Funchal, where he was present as the president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and a candidate in the legislative elections set for May 18.
Montenegro stated that he is expected to join the funeral ceremonies in Rome on Saturday, alongside President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Aguiar-Branco, and the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel.
The official highlighted that Portugal’s attendance at the funeral ceremonies of Pope Francis would be “at the highest level.” He mentioned, “We are in the organization phase, but what is currently planned is precisely that, a high-level participation with the President of the Republic, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs.”
Pope Francis passed away on Monday at the age of 88, succumbing to a stroke after a 12-year pontificate. Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Francis was the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church.
His final public appearance took place on Easter Sunday at the Vatican, just a day before his passing. Pope Francis had been hospitalized for 38 days due to bilateral pneumonia and was discharged on March 23.
