Scotland’s First Minister to represent nation at Vatican ceremony for pontiff remembered as voice of justice and peace
EDINBURGH / ROME – Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney will travel to Rome on Friday to attend the state funeral of Pope Francis, joining heads of state and dignitaries from across the globe in honouring one of the most influential religious leaders of the modern era.
Swinney said he was “deeply honoured” to represent the people of Scotland at Saturday’s ceremony, which will take place in St Peter’s Basilica following days of emotional tributes and record public turnout in Vatican City.
Global Farewell to a Pontiff of the People
Pope Francis—born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina—died on Monday at the age of 88, after suffering a stroke. The Vatican confirmed that he had been battling double pneumonia earlier this year and had spent five weeks in hospital.
Known for his progressive leadership, direct language, and unwavering focus on justice, compassion, and humility, Pope Francis served as pontiff for 12 years, consistently elevating issues of poverty, migration, climate, and peace onto the global stage.
“He was always on the side of the poor,” Swinney said in a statement on Monday. “He used his position of leadership of the Catholic community around the world to work for a better world, and we’re all profoundly grateful for his life.”
Scotland’s Solemn Tribute
Speaking ahead of his visit, Swinney said:
“His Holiness Pope Francis was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation who had a natural ability to connect with people of all ages, nationalities and beliefs. On behalf of the people of Scotland, I am deeply honoured to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome to express my sorrow, thanks and deep respect for the compassion, assurance and hope that he brought to so many.”
The Scottish Government’s presence at the Vatican funeral is part of a wider representation from nations around the world. Officials were formally invited by the Holy See, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome and the spiritual and administrative centre of the global Catholic community.
Masses and Mourning Across Scotland
In Scotland, memorial services have already begun. A Requiem Mass will be held at Edinburgh Cathedral on Monday, offering the Catholic community and wider public a chance to reflect on the Pope’s legacy.
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCOS) will be formally represented at the Vatican funeral by Bishop John Keenan of the Diocese of Paisley, who shared a personal bond with the late pontiff.
“I met him several times,” Keenan told BBC Scotland. “He always asked about the people of Scotland. Once, I brought him a bottle of malt whisky to the Vatican—he received it with a smile.”
Massive Crowds Pay Final Respects
Vatican authorities extended visiting hours this week as tens of thousands of mourners queued to see Pope Francis lying in state inside St Peter’s Basilica, where his body has been displayed in an open coffin, adorned in red and white papal robes.
Though the basilica was initially scheduled to close at midnight local time (22:00 GMT), the unprecedented crowds led officials to keep it open longer into the night to accommodate pilgrims from across Europe and beyond.
The funeral ceremony on Saturday is expected to draw one of the largest gatherings of global religious and political leaders since the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
Legacy of a Reforming Pontiff
Pope Francis’s tenure was marked by efforts to shift the Catholic Church toward a more inclusive, socially conscious direction. He is credited with opening dialogues on topics previously seen as taboo within Church doctrine—including LGBT+ inclusion, climate change, and interfaith reconciliation.
He also made a concerted effort to decentralise the Vatican, empowering local churches and bishops, while issuing powerful critiques of global capitalism, inequality, and indifference to human suffering.
His death leaves a significant void—not only in the Vatican—but across a world he often addressed directly and without pretense.
