President Donald Trump said he will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in what would be the president’s first foreign trip in his second administration.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday afternoon, referring to first lady Melania Trump.
The Vatican has not announced a date for the funeral. Hours before his death was announced early Monday, Francis met briefly on Sunday morning with Vice President JD Vance, a recent Catholic convert.
Trump and the pontiff had a contentious relationship over the past decade.
During the 2016 election, Francis was critical of Trump’s proposal to build a wall on the southern U.S. border. Trump, responded that “for a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.”
The two met in 2017 during a trip to the Vatican. “He is something. We had a fantastic meeting,” Trump said afterward.
Trump posted on Truth Social Monday an order to fly U.S. flags at half-staff “as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis.”
Trump’s first foreign trip was expected to be a May visit to Saudi Arabia.