papal

After the service, Francis's body — dressed in a red chasuble and a damask and golden papal mitre — will be transported to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial.

City Hall will also be lit up in the papal colours of yellow and white on Saturday to coincide with the day of his funeral.

Rodrigo Duterte, who would assume the presidency the year after the papal visit, would make headlines after cursing the Pope for the traffic chaos he caused.

It was to be the first papal visit to Ireland for 39 years - Mr Varadkar said he was initially "apprehensive" ahead of a meeting with the late pontiff.

"That could undermine someone, no matter how papal he is or what he does, he will be seen simply as an African Pope."