Belgian PM to attend inauguration of Pope Leo XIV

Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever will attend the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Sunday, his office announced on Saturday. 

Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde earlier announced that they would be attending the inauguration mass. De Wever and the royal couple were also present at Pope Francis's funeral on April 26 in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

Several prominent politicians are traveling to Rome for the mass on Sunday at 10.00. Among them are U.S. vice president J.D. Vance, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

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The Vatican announced plans to organize a meeting between the Pope and Vance on the sidelines of the ceremony. The U.S. vice president was the last international politician to meet with Pope Francis before his death.

At the age of 69, Leo XIV became the 267th pope and the first American to hold the title. Known as a reformer, the Chicago-born pope faces high expectations as well as internal challenges.

^{Pope Leo XIV © PHOTO ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP}

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