Madiba to attend pope's funeral
2005-04-05 08:21
Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela would attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on Friday, SABC news reported.
It was confirmed by the Vatican that Mandela would be among 200 world leaders at Friday's mass.
"We know that millions more people of all persuasions and backgrounds join us in this shared sense of loss and bereavement," an earlier statement from the Nelson Mandela Foundation read.
"At the same time we celebrate the life of one of the great spiritual leaders of our time, one who gave moral direction and guidance in an age which scientific and technological progress was not always matched by equal progress in compassion and universal caring."
He said the late pontiff was a consistent voice articulating the need for moral regeneration and caring for the poor and the marginalised.
"We were highly privileged to have met with his holiness on a number of occasions and were always inspired by his wisdom, compassion, humility and deep spirituality."
- SAPA