Norway will be sending royal representatives to the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis in Rome this weekend. They’ll be joining other royals and heads of state from around the world, including both the former and current US president.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide will accompany Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at funeral ceremonies at the Vatican on Saturday. King Harald V, age 88, has already sent condolences. Queen Sonja remains on sick leave after a short hospital stay at the end of the Easter holidays.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported this week, meanwhile, that one of the Catholic cardinals who’s viewed as a strong candidate to succeed Pope Francis met with King Harald at the Royal Palace in Oslo in January. Cardinal Pietro Parolin was in Norway at the time to preside over ceremonies tied to the Norwegian Catholic church’s new bishop in Oslo, Fredrik Hansen of Stavern. Hansen took over for Bernt Eidsvig, who’d been bishop for nearly 20 years.
Cardinal Parolin, born in Italy, also celebrated his 70th birthday while in Norway. He’s been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013, has served as a diplomat for the Vatican in Nigeria and Mexico and was among the late Pope Francis’ closest advisers. As the most senior cardinal-bishop under the age of 80, he’s also expected to preside over the upcoming papal conclave that will elect the new pope.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
