Pope Francis funeral: Level of State commemoration trails that afforded John Paul II in 2005

Flags will be flown at half-mast over public buildings on Saturday to mark the funeral of Pope Francis, the Government has confirmed.

With preparations under way in the Vatican for the first funeral of a serving pontiff for 20 years, Ireland is to be represented at the event by President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins, as well as both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris.

An incorporeal Cabinet meeting is expected to be held this week as, under the Constitution, a President is not permitted to leave the State during their term of office, except with the consent of the Government.

The degree of commemoration and memorialisation by the Government and the State appears to fall somewhat short of the last funeral of a sitting pope, that of John Paul II in 2005.