Honoring a Visionary: Silvio Berlusconi’s Funeral Service in the Cathedral

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian Prime Minister, has died at the age of 86. His death has been declared a national day of mourning in Italy, and a state funeral will be held for him at Milan Cathedral on Wednesday. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, is expected to attend the funeral. Berlusconi was a flamboyant billionaire media tycoon who first came to office in 1994 and led four governments until 2011. His death has been met with tributes from leaders across the world, including Vladimir Putin, who called Berlusconi a “true friend”. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said, “An era is over… Farewell Silvio”.

Berlusconi’s death has left a “huge void” in Italy, according to Crosetto. Berlusconi’s body will be transferred to his home at Villa San Martino in Arcore, near Milan, on Monday before being laid out for people to pay their respects starting Tuesday at the production centre of his Mediaset television empire in Cologno Monzese.