U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday directed that American flags be flown at half-staff nationwide in honour of Pope Francis.
The order follows a post on Trump’s Truth Social account in which he wrote: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God bless him and all who loved him!”
In a formal statement, Trump announced that he had signed an executive order mandating that all U.S. flags—federal, state, and military—be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for the late pontiff.
“As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on the day of interment,” the statement read.
The directive also extends to all U.S. embassies, consular offices, and military installations abroad for the same duration.
Trump described Pope Francis as a “good man” who “worked so hard and loved the world.”
