Marcos to attend Pope Francis funeral

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City on Saturday. — Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City on Saturday.

This was confirmed by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro to reporters on Wednesday.

“The President and the First Lady will do,” Castro said in a Viber message when asked if Marcos will attend the funeral.

There is no information yet on when the first couple will fly to Vatican City.

Pope Francis’ burial has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, where he also made his last appearance through an Easter Sunday blessing and a popemobile tour.

The pope died on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering from a stroke and cardiac arrest.

READ: Vatican: Pope Francis’ funeral to be held Saturday, viewing on Wednesday

In a statement posted on his social media accounts on the same day, Marcos described the Argentine pontiff as a man with “profound faith and humility.”

“The Philippines joins the Catholic community worldwide in grieving the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis. A man of profound faith and humility, Pope Francis led not only with wisdom but with a heart open to all, especially the poor and the forgotten,” he said.

Marcos also said that, by example, Pope Francis, affectionately known to Filipinos as “Lolo Kiko,” taught everyone that “to be a good Christian is to extend kindness and care to one another.”

Araneta-Marcos, on Tuesday, also paid tribute to Pope Francis by posting a photo of her with the pontiff.

“Met a saint on earth.  Now heaven welcomes him home. Thank you, Pope Francis,” she said in the caption.