Brazil's Lula to attend Pope Francis' funeral

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula da Silva will travel to Rome to attend Pope Francis' funeral, the Brazilian government said in a statement on Monday.

The confirmation of the date depends on the Vatican protocol, the government said.

Earlier on Monday, Lula declared a seven-day mourning for Francis in Latin America's biggest country.

"Humanity loses today a voice of respect and welcome for others," Lula said in a separate statement.

"May God comfort those who today, everywhere in the world, suffer the pain of this enormous loss. In his memory and in homage to his work, I decree a seven-day mourning in Brazil."

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu and Isabel Teles; Editing by Toby Chopra and Leslie Adler)