President Nechirvan Barzani will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, the Kurdistan Region Presidency confirmed in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, Barzani, "who will also represent Iraq, is set to participate in the official ceremony at the Vatican this Saturday, which is expected to draw dignitaries from around the world."

Following the death of Pope Francis, Barzani expressed condolences, praising the late pontiff as a "paragon of humility, spirituality, and compassion."

He extended his sympathies on behalf of the Kurdistan Region, referring to the Pope's passing as a loss for both the Christian world and humanity, and stated, "The Pope's commitment to upholding human dignity and promoting a message of love and coexistence was unwavering."

Pope Francis will be laid to rest on Saturday, with world leaders, church officials, and mourners in attendance, as the Vatican confirmed 130 delegations, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns.

Meanwhile, the Vatican said on Thursday that Pope Francis had chosen a modest marble tomb as his final resting place, nestled within the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, a site he held dear throughout his papacy.

Earlier on Monday, the Vatican announced the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88, following Easter Sunday, when he had renewed his call for global peace, emphasizing the importance of respecting freedom of religion and expression and urging an end to violence and conflicts in Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and others.