JOHN Swinney has said the funeral of Pope Francis was “very moving” and “uplifting”, as he met with Northern Ireland's first minister.
The First Minister attended the pope's funeral on Saturday morning at St Peter's Square in Rome, alongside other world leaders including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenksy.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
The First Minister shared an image of where he was seated in St Peter's Square, writing on Twitter/X: "Such a privilege to represent Scotland at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis".
Such a privilege to represent Scotland at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis. 🏴 🇻🇦 pic.twitter.com/wqLyRCt3q3
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) April 26, 2025
Speaking after the funeral, Swinney said: "It's been a very moving ceremony, paying tribute to a life of service in arguing for the protection of the poor and to support those who seek justice.
“But also an uplifting service about the hope for the world that Pope Francis conveyed.”
The First Minister praised the pontiff’s contributions on international conflict and tackling climate change, saying: “Pope Francis gave the perfect example of leadership, a combination of spiritual leadership to the faithful and dignified leadership to the world.”
While attending the funeral, Swinney met with Northern Ireland's first minister Michelle O'Neill and Alastair Dutton, secretary general of Caritas International and formerly the chief executive at the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF).
The First Minister said: "Deeply moved attending the funeral of Pope Francis. Such a privilege to convey the respect and admiration of Scotland.
"Pleased to meet with @moneillsf - First Minister of Northern Ireland - and Alastair Dutton Sec Gen of Caritas International formerly @sciaf".
Deeply moved attending the funeral of Pope Francis. Such a privilege to convey the respect and admiration of Scotland. Pleased to meet with @moneillsf - First Minister of Northern Ireland - and Alastair Dutton Sec Gen of Caritas International formerly @sciaf pic.twitter.com/RNxN2dSDtj
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) April 26, 2025
The First Minister was also pictured speaking with Bishop John Keenan – President of the Bishops Conference of Scotland – ahead of the funeral, before they are set to meet again on Saturday afternoon.
Pleased to bump into Bishop Keenan - President of the Bishops Conference of Scotland - just after Pope Francis’ funeral prior to meeting up later today. pic.twitter.com/y16STi6fdS
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) April 26, 2025
Swinney also discussed his own experience of religion, saying he had been baptised a Protestant but worships in the Catholic Church with his wife and son.
He said: “My wife and son are Catholics, I am not a member of the Catholic Church.
“But what for me matters is the deep anchoring of faith in my life. It makes me who I am.
“It connects me with the love of God and it also connects me with the important teachings of doing unto others as I would have done unto me.
“That drives my whole approach to life and it drives the political leadership and the national leadership I exercise as First Minister of Scotland.”
Trump meets with Zelensky
Trump and Zelensky also met on the sidelines of the pope's funeral, where they discussed the war in Ukraine.
A photograph of the two leaders shows them sat opposite one another on chairs within St Peter’s Basilica, after both had paid their respects in front of the pontiff’s coffin.
Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron could also be seen alongside the American and Ukrainian presidents in images from the encounter.
On Thursday, Trump said Russia has already made a “pretty big concession” to end the war in Ukraine by stopping short of taking control of the whole country.
Following the open-air funeral in St Peter's Square, Francis’s remains were taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body was brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions.
During the journey, crowds were able to catch a glimpse of a pontiff who proved popular with many during his 12-year papacy.
While Saturday is the first of nine official days of mourning, speculation regarding the next pope is likely to begin soon after the funeral.
Conclave, the secret meeting of cardinals to elect Francis’s successor, is thought likely to begin on May 5.
The sign of a new pope having been elected will be the emergence of white smoke from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel while, soon after, an announcement in Latin of “Habemus Papam” – meaning “we have a pope” – is made alongside the chosen pontiff’s appearance on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
