Prince Moulay Rachid in Pope's funeral

20 janvier 2006

Arrivée à Rome de SAR le Prince Moulay Rachid

Rome, 08/04/05-SAR le Prince Moulay Rachid est arrivé, jeudi soir à Rome, pour représenter SM le Roi Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, aux obsèques du Pape Jean Paul II, qui auront lieu vendredi matin.

A sa descente d'avion à l'aéroport militaire de Ciaampino à Rome, SAR le Prince Moulay Rachid a été accueilli par MM. Mohamed Benaissa, ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la coopération, Mohamed Sbihi, ambassadeur du Maroc près du Saint-Siège, Tajeddine Baddou, ambassadeur du Maroc à Rome et par un représentant du Vatican.

Plusieurs chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement assisteront aux funérailles du Pape Jean Paul II.

HRH Prince Moulay Rachid represents King in Pope's funeral

MAP 4/8/2005 | 11:12 am

HRH Prince Moulay Rachid arrived on Thursday to represent HM King Mohammed VI in the funeral of Pope John Paul II, taking place in the Vatican.

Following the death of the Pope, HM King Mohammed VI had sent a message of condolence to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Dean of the College of Cardinals, in which the King expressed his "deep affliction and vivid emotion" for the passing away of the Pontiff, recalling that he had devoted his life to "faith, freedom, peace, love, compassion, brotherliness and concord between all men without any discrimination".

The funeral of Pope John Paul II is taking place in front of thousands of pilgrims and world leaders at St Peter's Square in Rome.

The Pope's coffin has been transferred to the steps of the vast St Peter's Basilica, where more than 26 years ago Karol Wojtyla first emerged as pontiff.

Four kings, five queens and at least 70 presidents and prime ministers are attending the open-air service to pay homage to a man who helped bring down the Iron Curtain, urged unity between faiths and stamped a strict orthodoxy on his own church.