The Latest: Pope Francis’ funeral is set to begin as dignitaries take their seats

VATICAN CITY AP As a great number of as people are expected to attend Pope Francis funeral in St Peter s Square as he is being laid to rest Saturday While dignitaries are to attend prisoners and movers will usher him into the basilica where he will be buried reflecting his priorities as pope U S President Donald Trump French President Emmanuel Macron the U N chief and European Union leaders are joining Prince William and the Spanish royal family will be in attendance Francis is current with new tradition and will be buried in the St Mary Major Basilica where a simple underground tomb awaits him with just his name Franciscus The funeral is set to start at a m local time Here is the latest Mourners led in rosary prayer as dignitaries take their seats at Pope Francis funeral World leaders and royalty were sitting to the right of the main altar EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei have all made their way to their seating The Argentine and Italian leaders have place of pride in the seating order Trump arrives at funeral to pay respects to Pope Francis The U S president clashed with the pope on immigration conditions and other issues Donald Trump arrived with his wife Melania He is among more than heads of state and other dignitaries attending the funeral of Pope Francis Mourners remember Pope Francis They spoke of the pontiff in emotional terms while lining up along Via della Conciliazione for Pope Francis funeral in St Peter s Square Miguel Vaca a pilgrim from Peru lined up at a m He was a very charismatic pope very human very kind above all very human Vaca explained It s a very great emotion to say goodbye to him Italian pilgrim Pasquale Vezza made his way to the square with his family He reported the pope was a bit like everyone s grandfather He will be greatly missed as a person as a pope Now we hope that there will be a continuation especially of his message of peace Vezza revealed Ukrainian president arrives in Rome for papal funeral Volodymyr Zelenskyy s press office established his arrival joining the first lady Olena Zelenska who preceded him Zelenskyy s presence was put in doubt after a contemporary missile attack Pope s coffin will be placed on the back of a popemobile used on a Philippines trip The pope will get one more ride past the faithful on one of his beloved popemobiles The Vatican says for Saturday s burial procession his coffin will be placed on the back of a popemobile used during his trip to the Philippines The van has been modified so the coffin will be visible to mourners along the nearly -kilometer -mile highway from St Peter s Basilica to his place of burial The pope reveled in being driven through crowds of faithful whether in St Peter s Square or on one of his multiple foreign trips His last was on Easter Sunday when he looped around St Peter s Square to the delight of the faithful who had followed his -week hospitalization for pneumonia and his recovery at the Vatican A Calabria parish group camped out all night to get a good spot The spent the night in a nearby square They were already coming to Rome for the planned canonization of the first millennial saint on Sunday which was suspended by Francis death Instead they drove up a day early for his funeral The Lord needed it this way so we came all the same declared Sandra De Felice of Anoia in the Calabria region For me this is a sign that we need to be truly humble and charitable Otherwise we are nothing Mourners race to find a spot in St Peter s Square Ordinary mourners streamed Saturday to get a spot in standing room near the rear of the square surrounding the ancient obelisk behind VIP seating The area to the left of the main altar up the basilica attempts is reserved for celebrants and Catholic hierarchy while world leaders and royalty will be seated on the right Multiple ran toward the square as barricades opened Selected carried banners for the Jubilee Holy Year that Francis opened in December and will continue despite his death Monday following a stroke Source