The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE), one of the oldest religious charities in the UK, representing the Zoroastrian community since 1861, sent a two-member delegation to the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis, in Vatican City, on 26^th April, 2025. The delegation included ZTFE’s Resident Priest, Er. Yazad T. Bhadha and the Inter-Faith Officer and SOAS PhD candidate in Zoroastrian Studies, Ruzbeh V Hodiwala, attending on behalf of the global Zoroastrian community, reaffirming the faith’s commitment to interreligious harmony.

ZTFE’s inclusion was facilitated through Ruzbeh Hodiwala’s ongoing work with a Rome-based interfaith forum previously represented by prominent Zoroastrian scholar Dr. Homi Dhalla. ZTFE was honoured to be invited, continuing its legacy of interfaith engagement at the highest levels. International media noted the diverse religious presence. Corriere della Sera reported that “Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and Jains will be represented in St. Peter’s Square.” Il Post similarly listed “representatives of the Christian Churches and leaders of other religions including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism.” Vatican News (Polish edition) specifically mentioned Hodiwala as leading the Zoroastrian delegation. Sky TG24 and The Washington Post both highlighted the broad religious representation in addition to 164 national delegations.

On the day of the funeral, delegates were instructed to assemble at 8:15 am in the Aurelia neighbourhood, outside the Vatican’s boundary. There, they received official passes and were guided through the southern entrance at Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani. A reserved section in St. Peter’s Square had been arranged for interfaith representatives. Following the event, ZTFE and other faith organisations received formal letters of gratitude from the Vatican’s Secretariat for Interreligious Dialogue, acknowledging their participation and solidarity during this period of global mourning.

ZTFE’s presence at the Vatican is part of a rich history of Zoroastrian engagement with the Holy See. Historical records note that Maneckji Kursetji, a Bombay Parsi, met Pope Gregory XVI in the 1840s. The late Er. Rusi Bhedwar, a Trustee and former Vice President of ZTFE, met Pope John Paul II on two occasions. In 2007, Tina Mistry, then Co-Chair of ZTFE’s Young Zoroastrians, was among five youth faith representatives to meet Pope Benedict XVI. ZTFE President, Malcolm M. Deboo, upon invitation by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, during the Pontiff’s historical Papal visit to the UK in 2010. ZTFE Patron Lord Karan F Bilimoria CBE DL also met with Pope Benedict XVI in London, in 2010. Dr. Homi Dhalla has had the distinguished honour of meeting three successive Popes – Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, during interfaith events in Assisi and Rome. Former Indian Ambassador, Homi J H Taleyarkhan, also met Pope John Paul II during his posting in Italy.

ZTFE’s representation at the Papal funeral reflects the continued visibility of the Zoroastrian faith in interreligious affairs and its enduring respect for global dialogue.