LIMA, April 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Peru's Congress on Wednesday denied President Dina Boluarte permission to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, with a lawmaker saying she should take a page from his book and "be austere."

As required by law, the president had sought permission to travel to the Vatican to attend Saturday's funeral of the pontiff, who died this week of a stroke aged 88.

But the unicameral Congress rejected her request with 45 votes to 40, with one abstention.

Lawmaker Susel Paredes argued during the debate that: "If the lady wants to pray for the pope's soul, let her follow his example, be austere, go to mass every day, not spend on superficialities."

Peru declared three days of mourning for the pope, and will be represented at the funeral by Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer.