Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina paid their respects at the lying in state of Francis in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican yesterday. They were pictured stopping for a few moments at the open coffin.
Today they will return to St Peter’s Square for the funeral, which will be attended by world leaders including US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin and Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell are also due to attend.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has also confirmed she will travel to Rome. The Sinn Féin vice-president has cut short a family holiday to attend.
In a statement ahead of the funeral, Mr Higgins said: “As President of Ireland, I am pleased to communicate the appreciation of all of the people of Ireland for the life, the documents and the contacts to the most vulnerable all over the world made by Pope Francis, who I was honoured to meet with on five occasions.
He was a strong spokesperson for how global poverty could be eliminated and he gave leadership in relation to the rights of migrants
“The world was struck by the generosity given by Pope Francis, right until the very last moments of his life, in terms of seeking to embrace, as he put it, all of humanity.
“Through his life and his work, Pope Francis… was a strong advocate for the fulfilling of obligations in relation to nature and the indigenous peoples who are paying the highest price for the consequences of climate change.
“He was a strong spokesperson for how global poverty could be eliminated and he gave leadership in relation to the rights of migrants.
“In attending the funeral and celebrating the life of Pope Francis, it is important to stress his work on our shared humanity and on the importance of peace, sustainability and of rights.”
This is the third papal funeral that Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy, a Dubliner who works at the Vatican, will attend.
He is the secretary for discipline at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is responsible for religious discipline in the Catholic Church.
He said Francis’s funeral will be more humble than previous ones, but it will have typical elements such as world leaders being present.
“These world leaders are going to have a unique opportunity to meet each other… and I’m sure they’re going to exchange words,” he told RTÉ radio, adding that the word “pontifex” means “bridge builder”.
The Pope’s funeral begin at 9am Irish time today.
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