On 26 April, the Federal President headed the German delegation to the funeral ceremony in the Vatican. Together with the President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner, acting Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the President of the Bundesrat, Anke Rehlinger, and the President of the Constitutional Court, Stephan Harbarth, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender bade farewell to the late head of the Catholic Church in Rome.

Following the funeral ceremony in St Peter’s Square, the Federal President lauded the late Pope as a voice of the marginalised. Pope Francis, the Federal President said, had called for a church of mercy and had himself put this ideal into practice. His modesty, his spontaneity, his humour and his profound faith had touched people, the Federal President continued. We will remember him and forever be grateful.

Previously, on 25 April, the Federal President had signed the book of condolence on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See’s diplomatic mission in Berlin.

I join with Catholics in Germany and around the world in mourning Pope Francis. His modesty, his spontaneity and his humour, his tangibly profound faith, and his plea for mercy touched people all over the world, giving them support, strength and guidance. He was a pope and a man among men.