The funeral of Pope Francis drew a constellation of world leaders and royalty to St Peter’s Square on Saturday, transforming the solemn occasion into a nexus of geopolitical symbolism and delicate diplomacy, the BBC reported.
Among the mourners, seating arrangements revealed unspoken alliances and tensions, while a discreet meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at shifting dynamics in the Ukraine conflict.
Over 100 global dignitaries, including Prince William, US President Donald Trump, French leader Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, converged at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square under a scorching Roman sun.
The seating chart placed Trump and First Lady Melania in a front row flanked by staunch Ukraine allies: Estonia’s President Alar Karis and Finland’s Alexander Stubb. Ukraine’s Zelensky, seated on the same row as Macron but separated by an aisle, found himself just ten seats from Trump.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a pivotal figure in EU policy, was observed in animated conversation with Macron during the proceedings. Their discussion, though private, underscored the bloc’s efforts to present a united front amid internal divisions over issues ranging from Ukraine aid to economic strategy.
US Former President Joe Biden and his wife Jill seated four rows behind Trump. Argentina’s Javier Milei and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni occupied prime spots near the pontiff’s coffin, reflecting Francis’ Argentine roots and the host nation’s role.
European royalty, including Belgium’s King Philippe and Sweden’s Carl XVI Gustaf, mingled with leaders from China, Jordan, and New Zealand, while crowds of pilgrims—waving flags from Lebanon to Venezuela—packed the square, sharing water and prayers in a display of unity.
Trump-Zelensky talks
Fresh tensions between Kyiv and Washington loomed over the day’s quiet diplomacy. Hours before the service, Trump and Zelensky held closed-door talks in St Peter’s Basilica, photos of which were later released by Ukraine’s presidency. Starmer and Macron joined the leaders in one image, underscoring Europe’s vested interest in mediating US-Ukraine relations.
The encounter followed a collapsed multilateral meeting in London on 23 April, where European and Ukrainian proposals for ending the war diverged sharply from US suggestions. A leaked Ukrainian-European plan, seen by Reuters, demands a full ceasefire, NATO-style security guarantees, and phased sanctions relief contingent on Russian compliance.
Meanwhile, Washington’s framework reportedly envisions recognising Crimea as Russian and barring Kyiv’s NATO membership, an unacceptable condition for Zelensky.
For Trump and Zelensky, the funeral offered rare neutral ground to navigate a fractured transatlantic alliance. For the Vatican, it was a final testament to Francis’ global reach—one that brought rivals together, if only temporarily, under the shadow of St Peter’s dome.
