An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, An Tanaiste Simon Harris and President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will represent Ireland at the funeral of Pope Francis this weekend.

On Friday morning, President Higgins and his wife Sabina visited the Vatican where they were among thousands of people to see Pope Francis before his coffin is closed. They will attend the funeral on Saturday and will represent Ireland alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris.

Pope Francis’s work on peace and sustainability must be remembered by those attending his funeral on Saturday, Irish president Michael D Higgins has said. Mr Higgins and his wife Sabine travelled to Rome on Friday to pay their respects at the lying in state of Francis in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.