SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula da Silva will travel to Rome to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, the Brazilian government said in a statement on Monday.
The confirmation of the date depends on the Vatican protocol, the government said.
Earlier on Monday, Lula declared a seven-day mourning for Francis in Latin America’s biggest country.
“Humanity loses today a voice of respect and welcome for others,” Lula said in a separate statement.
“May God comfort those who today, everywhere in the world, suffer the pain of this enormous loss. In his memory and in homage to his work, I decree a seven-day mourning in Brazil.”
(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu and Isabel Teles; Editing by Toby Chopra and Leslie Adler)
