President Donald Trump has ordered that flags at federal, state and military buildings be lowered to the half-mast position – referred to as "half-staff" in the US – in honour of Pope Francis who died on Monday at the age of 88.
The 47th US president also announced that he and his wife will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. US flags shall remain lowered until the Pope’s funeral, according to the executive order.
“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 executive order reads.
