VICTORIA, Seychelles — President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by the First Lady, Linda Ramkalawan, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, travelled to Vatican City at the weekend to pay Seychelles’ final respects to His Holiness Pope Francis, following his passing. The Seychellois delegation joined world leaders, dignitaries, and members of the global Catholic community for the solemn funeral ceremony held at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday.
During the moment of mourning, President Ramkalawan once again conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the people and government of Seychelles to the Holy See, honouring the extraordinary legacy of Pope Francis as a beacon of compassion, humility, and unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and humanity. The papal funeral, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, was attended by an estimated 200,000 mourners, including heads of state, royalty, and representatives of global faith communities.
Following the ceremony at St Peter’s, the Pope’s coffin was transferred to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he was interred in accordance with his wishes. The Seychelles Presidency has described Pope Francis as a spiritual leader whose focus on the poor, the environment, and interfaith dialogue had resonated deeply with small island states. The visit to the Vatican, coming days after the President attended the 5th IOC Summit in Madagascar, underscores the breadth of Seychelles’ diplomatic engagements in the month of April.
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