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World leaders from Trump to Zelensky to attend Pope’s funeral
Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican has confirmed, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend.
The head of the Catholic Church died of a stroke on Monday, aged 88, less than 24 hours after leading an Easter address. He had been in poor health after recently battling double pneumonia.
A host of world leaders and royals – including Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, the Prince of Wales, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, home to the biggest Catholic population in the world – have confirmed their attendance.
Thousands of mourners have already flocked to Vatican City, carrying flowers, crosses and candles and reciting prayers.
On Tuesday, the Vatican released further details of the Pope’s final 24 hours.
Francis, who had recently spent five weeks in hospital, was slightly apprehensive about appearing on the balcony on Sunday.
“Do you think I can do this?” the Pope asked his personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti.
Strappetti reassured him and moments later the pontiff appeared on the balcony, blessing the crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square below.
The following morning at around 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), Francis began to feel unwell. An hour later, he waved at Strappetti before slipping into a coma.
“Those who were near him in those moments say he didn’t suffer,” the Vatican said in a statement. “It was a discreet death.”
Just before the procession, a moment of prayer will be led by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican in the wake of the Pope’s death.
The Vatican has released photos of the Pope’s body lying in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta – his residence during his 12-year papacy – dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand.
The general public will be able to visit St Peter’s Basilica from 11:00 to midnight on Wednesday, 07:00 to midnight on Thursday and 07:00 to 19:00 on Friday.
Bucking tradition, there will be no private viewing for cardinals, at Pope Francis’s request. The Pope’s coffin will also not be raised on a pedestal.
Dambulla Sixers powered by an all-round performance from Marques Ackerman [2-27 and 35] and an unbeaten 64 off 37 balls from Reeza Hendricks handed the Galle Gallants their first defeat in LPL 2026. The match, the 8th game in LPL 2026 was played on Wednesday [22nd July] at Dambulla. The Gallants used nine bowlers but were unable to restraint the Dambulla batsmen who won with six wickets in hand 23 balls remaining.
Scores:
Galle Gallants 178/8 in 20 overs [Lasith Croospulle 12, Sam Harper 40, Charith Asalanka 25, Chamika Karunarathne 45, Dasun Shanaka 20, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 16; Vishwa Lahiru 1-20, Fazalhaq Farooki 3-39, Maheesh Theekshan 1-29, Gulbadin Naib 1-23, Marques Ackerman 2-27]
Dambulla Sixers 180/4 in 16.1 overs [Niroshan Dickwella 14, Shaibzada Farhan 13, Reeza Hendricks 64*, Pavan Rathnayake 29, Marqes Ackerman 35, Gulbadin Naib 20*; Dasun Shanaka 1-18, Mohammad Nawaz 1-40, Eshan Malinga 1-35, Chamika karunarathne 1-07]
Jaffna Kings defended 179 runs to defeat Colombo Kaps by five runs in the 7th Match of the Lanka Premier League played on Wednesday [22nd July] at Dambulla.
Chamindu Wickremasinghe was named player of the match for his 22 ball 43 while Lizaad Williams captured three wickets for the Kings.
Scores
Jaffna Kings 179/6 in 20 overs [Avishka Fernando 34, Kamil Mishara 39, Chamindu Wickremasinghe 43, Ibrahim Zadran 19, Dunith Wellalage 19, Shakib Al Hasan 10*; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-33, Shahnawaz Dehani 2-25, Milan Rathnayake 1-40, Wanuja Sahan 1-10]
Colombo Kaps 174/9 in 20 overs [Kamindu Mendis 58, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 26, Milan Rathnayake 15, Wanuja Sahan 34*; Dilshan Madushanka 2-12, Traveen Mathew 2-21, Lizaad Williams 3-29, Shakib Al Hasan 1-19, Dunith Wellalage 1-33]
Sri Lanka edge Qatar in Davis Cup opener
Dambulla Sixers hand Galle Gallants first defeat in LPL 2026
Jaffna Kings beat Colombo Kaps by five runs
Showers will occur in the Western and North-western provinces and Galle, Batticaloa, Ampara and Monaragala districts
United Opposition moves to halt interference with judicial independence
PM labels seven Presidential Houses white elephants ; govt. to make them commercially viable
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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