Ahern, McAleese to head delegation at Pope's funeral

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will join President Mary McAleese at the head of the Irish delegation to the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome, it emerged today.

President McAleese will also pay her respects at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City tomorrow, where the Pontiff is lying in state.

The funeral, expected to last about two and a half hours, will begin at 9am (Irish time) in St Peter’s Square before a burial ceremony in the grotto in the basilica.

Mrs McAleese will be accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, the Taoiseach, Tanaiste Mary Harney and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

A sunset remembrance ceremony will also be held at the site of the Pope’s historic visit to Ireland in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Friday to mark the funeral.