Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Nyeri Archdiocese is among the Catholic clerics from across the world attending the funeral of Pope Francis.

The deceased pontiff's body has been lying in state at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where mourners have been streaming in to pay their last respects.

Muheria, while sharing his experience, revealed that he had planned to tour Rome, but the pope's death coincided with his scheduled trip.

On Thursday, April 24, he was among the congregants at the basilica where the pope's body lay.

He shared photos and clips of himself praying in the vicinity of the body, this while sharing a heartfelt message of condolence to those touched by the pope's life and deeds.

Muheria will witness the final sendoff of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26.

"We continue to mourn Pope Francis: My planned trip to Rome coincided with his passing to Heaven. He leaves us a legacy of practical mercy and empathy with the forgotten. Today, I had the honour and privilege to pray next to his body on behalf of many. I tried my best to represent all of us in Kenya and express the desire of many hearts to pray next to his body for him. I hope to concelebrate in the funeral mass on Saturday. May God reward Pope Francis with eternal happiness. RIP, Papa Francis," he said on X.

In the meanwhile, the preparations are almost complete in the Vatican for the final rites to honour Pope Francis.

The final mass, set for Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square, will gather global leaders alongside clergy such as patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from around the world.

Immediately after the mass, the pontiff's body will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica and then to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for entombment.

Kenya's President William Ruto will not attend the funeral due to his ongoing state visit to China.

Instead, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula will represent him.

Wetang'ula departed Kenya for Italy on Thursday evening, April 24.

Among the world leaders expected at the funeral are U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and France's President Emmanuel Macron.

The pope passed away on April 21 due to cardiac arrest.

To follow his burial will be the election of the new pontiff, which ought to happen within 20 days after the funeral.

Kenya will not be represented in the forthcoming College of Cardinals conclave at the Vatican, scheduled to take place within the next two to three weeks to elect a new pope.

John Cardinal Njue, who succeeded Cardinal Maurice Otunga and was named cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, is now 81 years old and therefore ineligible to vote.

In accordance with Canon Law, Cardinal Njue retired as Nairobi's Archbishop in 2021 upon reaching the age of 75.

Njue was part of the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.

The Catholic Church's law stipulates that only cardinals under 80 years old can take part in the papal vote.

Source: TUKO.co.ke