President Abinader travels to Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje departed for the Vatican this Friday morning to attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis. Their flight left at 10:00 a.m. from the San Isidro Air Base, where they were seen off by senior military officials, including Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre.

The Dominican delegation also includes the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, and presidential assistant Mercedes Pichardo. They are scheduled to arrive in Rome Friday night, ahead of Saturday’s ceremony, which will bring together leaders from around the world.

The funeral Mass will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. (Rome time), with participation from the Dominican ambassador-designate to the Holy See, Víctor Suárez. President Abinader and his delegation are expected to return to the Dominican Republic on Sunday, April 27.