Aziz Akhannouch, head of the government, represented King Mohammed VI at the funeral of Pope Francis, which took place on Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. After the funeral mass, Pope Francis's coffin was transported to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, in the heart of Rome, where he had chosen to be buried, reports MAP. Following the death of Pope Francis, King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as Amir Al-Mouminine, sent a message of condolences and compassion to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. In this message, the sovereign expressed his «deep sorrow and strong emotion» at the loss of a «distinguished religious figure who dedicated his life to the service of the supreme ideals of humanity and the common values of faith, freedom, peace, love, and solidarity among peoples». In March 2019, Pope Francis made an official visit to Morocco, marked by the signing of a joint declaration advocating for the guarantee of the «multi-religious» character of the holy city of Al-Qods.
