The British prime minister and three former prime ministers attended the funeral of parliamentarian David Amess, stabbed to death in October. Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron and John Major sat in the front row of the church.
A message from Pope Francis was also recited during the funeral mass. The Pope offered condolences to the family of 69-year-old Amess and praised the conservative parliamentarian’s dedication. “It was evident in his concern for the poor and disadvantaged people,” Francis said.
The highest-ranking Catholic cleric in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, led the service at Westminster Cathedral. Amess was a committed Catholic. But, according to Sky News, those in attendance laughed when the priest of parliament told a story about Amess eating a candy blessed by the Pope.
Amess has sat in the British Parliament on behalf of the Conservative Party since 1983. He was stabbed to death on October 15 by a 25-year-old man. According to the police, it is terrorism. The man will face trial next year.