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Politics

Biden to attend Pope Francis' funeral

By
Ed O'Keefe
Ed O'Keefe
Senior White House and Political Correspondent
Ed O'Keefe is CBS News' senior White House and political correspondent reporting for all CBS News platforms. He's part of the team covering President Trump and covered all four years of Joe Biden's presidency. From the White House to the campaign trail, O'Keefe's reports stretch from the politics of the moment to how policy enacted in Washington affects the nation and the world.
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Ed O'Keefe,
Fin Daniel Gómez
Fin Daniel Gómez
Political Director and Executive Director of Politics and White House, CBS News
Fin Daniel Gómez is CBS News' political director and executive director, Politics and White House. In this role, Gómez oversees the daily White House and political coverage for CBS News and works closely with Washington bureau leadership to inform the Network's political coverage.
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Fin Daniel Gómez

/ CBS News

Former President Joe Biden, who maintained a close working and personal relationship with Pope Francis dating back to the late pontiff's visit to the United States in 2015, will attend the papal funeral Saturday in Vatican City, Biden's office confirmed Friday.

Former first lady Jill Biden will also be traveling with her husband to Italy for the funeral.

Francis began his papacy in 2013 during the Obama administration, but former President Barack Obama is not planning to attend, according to a spokesman.

Pope Francis meets with President Joe Biden
Pope Francis meets with President Joe Biden during the G7 Leaders Summit on June 14, 2024, in Fasano, Italy. Divisione Produzione Fotografica / Getty Images

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump left Friday morning for Rome to attend the funeral.

Bipartisan delegations of House and Senate lawmakers are also heading to Rome to pay their respects.

The House members attending the funeral include Republican Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, French Hill of Arkansas, Ann Wagner of Missouri, John Joyce of Pennsylvania, Pete Stauber of Minnesota and Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin as well as Democratic Reps. Nancy Pelosi of California, Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania and Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen of New York.

The senators joining them are Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Mike Rounds of South Dakota in addition to Democrats Dick Durbin of Illinois and Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

Pope Francis, who had battled health issues for months, died Monday at the age of 88 following a stroke.

He has been lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica since Wednesday, where tens of thousands of mourners have come to pay their final respects.

Among the heads of state attending the funeral will be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Argentinian President Javier Milei.

Caitlin Yilek and Gabrielle Ake contributed to this report.

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