Pope Francis arrives to address journalists aboard the plane flying from Nur-Sultan to Rome following his three-day visit to Kazakhstan on September 15, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis will not attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London next week, instead sending his de-facto foreign minister, the Vatican said Friday.

"The Most Reverend Paul Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organisations, will represent Pope Francis at the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," it said in a statement.