Reps. Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen attending Pope Francis' funeral

Two Long Island congressional Democrats will be among a select group of U.S. officials to join the thousands of mourners at the Vatican Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, their offices confirmed Friday.

Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) both confirmed Friday they are included in the bipartisan U.S. delegation of 10 members of the House of Representatives in Rome following Monday's death of Pope Francis, 88.

In a statement, Suozzi said “it is a great honor” to be invited to be a part of the delegation.

“Paying my respects in person is deeply meaningful,” he said. “I’m looking forward to sharing my reflections.”

In a statement Friday, Gillen recalled how Pope Francis “dedicated his life to faith, education, and caring for our planet. As Pope, he sought to make the Catholic Church more inviting and open to reflection.”

A total of 164 delegations are confirmed to be attending, including 54 heads of state, The Associated Press reported Friday. The funeral is 4 a.m. Saturday local time and 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, which is surrounded by Rome. The Vatican reported that some 250,000 mourners walked past the pontiff as he lay in state at St. Peter's Basilica. 

In 2016, Gillen, then a lawyer, traveled to Rome to attend the canonization of Mother Teresa during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, Newsday reported at the time. Gillen, who grew up in a Catholic family, volunteered in 1996 with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India.

Gillen added Friday: “It is a solemn honor to represent Long Islanders in Rome as we celebrate Pope Francis’ life and mourn the loss of a leader who inspired so many. May this holy man rest in peace.”

The delegation representing the House will be led by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). Sen. Susan Collins announced Friday she’s leading a bipartisan delegation of Catholic U.S. senators that includes Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Michael Rounds (R-S.D.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.). President Donald Trump will also be in attendance.

Spokespeople for Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) confirmed they will not be in Rome. A spokesperson for Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The pope died of a stroke and heart failure after serving 12 years as head of the Catholic Church.

On Wednesday, the start of a three-day public viewing began with thousands of people filing through St. Peter’s Basilica, the AP reported. More than 250,000 people filed past the open coffin in all. A conclave, where a new pope is elected, is not expected to begin before May 5, according to the AP.

In 2005, Rep. Peter King, a Republican from Seaford who retired in 2021, attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Rep. Charles Rangel, a Democrat from Harlem who left office in 2017, was also one of the 26 elected officials in the congressional delegation, according to Newsday archives.