Rome – Representing His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, a Palestinian delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and including Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, took part in the official funeral ceremony of His Holiness Pope Francis, held this morning in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of kings, heads of state, government representatives, church leaders, and thousands of faithful from around the world.
The Palestinian delegation also included members of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Holy See Issa Kassissieh, the Committee’s representative to Europe Ambassador Amira Hanania, and the Committee’s representative in Jerusalem Yousef Barakat.
General Secretariat of Christian Youth in Palestine.also participated in the ceremony, proudly carrying Palestinian flags in a powerful display that affirm the presence of Palestine and its people in bidding farewell to His Holiness and expressed deep gratitude for his steadfast support of truth and justice.
This participation reaffirms the deep historical ties between Palestine and the Holy See, and reflects the deep respect and appreciation held by the Palestinian people and leadership for the life, humanitarian mission, and steadfast positions of His Holiness in support of the Palestinian people and their just cause.
Pope Francis is recognized worldwide as a symbol of moral conscience, a steadfast voice for justice and peace, and a sincere defender of human dignity and the rights of marginalized and forgotten peoples, foremost among them the Palestinian people.
Throughout his papacy, His Holiness dedicated his efforts to championing truth and defending oppressed peoples, carrying a message of peace in a world torn apart by war, injustice, and conflict.
The Palestinian people cherish the memory of Pope Francis as an exceptional religious and humanitarian leader who embodied the principles of truth, freedom, and brotherhood beyond all divisions. His Holiness was a source of comfort for the oppressed and marginalized and a guiding light leading the world toward the enduring values of justice and peace.
