CARDINAL Giovanni Battista Re has spent over 50 years serving within the Roman curia.

The 91-year-old Dean of the Faculty of Cardinals has been appointed with main Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican.

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Who’s Giovanni Battista Re?

Giovanni Battista Re was born in Borno, Italy on January 30, 1934.

He was ordained a priest in Brescia in 1957.

Giovanni was a professor on the Brescia seminary and graduated with a doctorate in canon regulation from the Pontifical Gregorian.

He then joined the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1961 to coach for a profession in diplomacy.

He joined the Roman curia in 1963, marking the beginning of his profession on the Vatican.

In line with the Holy See Press Workplace, he labored as a private assistant to Archbishop Giovanni Benelli after serving on missions in Panama and Iran.

He served because the Substitute for Common Affairs of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State for over ten years, overseeing the day-to-day actions of the Holy See.

In 2001, he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal.

From 2020, Cardinal Giovanni has been the Dean of the Faculty of Cardinals – a physique of the very best rating members of the Catholic Church who, in a secretive course of often called a papal conclave, elect a brand new pope.

Nevertheless, solely these beneath 80 years take part within the secret voting which suggests Cardinal Giovanni will likely be excluded.

Giovanni presided over the Pope’s funeral on April 26.

Cardinal Battista mentioned Francis was “a Pope among the many individuals, with an open coronary heart in the direction of everybody”.

The Cardinal mentioned: “He established direct contact with people and peoples, wanting to be near everybody, with a marked consideration to these in issue, giving himself with out measure, particularly to the marginalised, the least amongst us.”

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Who else is attending the Pope’s funeral?

The Pope’s funeral is anticipated to attract world leaders and hundreds of mourners from across the globe.

This consists of President Donald Trump and his spouse, Melania, in addition to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

No10 mentioned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer may also attend the funeral, together with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Prince William can be to attend on behalf of the King, Kensington Palace introduced.

King Charles and Queen Camilla beforehand paid tribute to the Pope in a touching assertion.

European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are additionally anticipated to attend.

This surge in well-known guests to the tiny 0.44sqkm nation has prompted one of many most advanced safety operations ever to be launched.

How can I watch the ceremony?

The Vatican Information YouTube channel will stream the ceremony reside.

Many TV channels together with CNN, ABC and BBC may also be broadcasting reside.

The Solar will present reside protection of the occasion within the weblog.