President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has delegated the Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, to represent her at the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, Italy, and to deliver her message of condolence to the government of the Holy See.

Pope Francis' funeral is taking place today at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, with more than 500,000 mourners, including over 40 heads of state, expected to attend.

Ashipala-Musavyi is accompanied by Martin Andjaba, the ambassador of Namibia to the Holy See. Namibia and the Holy See established diplomatic relations in 2007.

Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 (Easter Monday), at the age of 88, at his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Vatican City, following complications from a stroke and heart failure after several weeks of illness.