On Saturday, President Trump and other global leaders convened in Rome to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
The Pope, born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had significant connections with various leaders and possessed notable political influence during his 12 years leading the Catholic Church.
His funeral occurred at a pivotal moment for Trump, offering an opportunity to meet with other world leaders, as his administration works to broker deals with trading partners on tariffs and advocates for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Here are five key points from the Pope’s funeral.
Francis’ Legacy
The funeral of Pope Francis highlighted his modest yet impactful life and leadership at the Vatican, where he was recognized as a trailblazer and a barrier-breaker within the Catholic Church. Roughly 250,000 attendees gathered outside St. Peter’s Cathedral to honor the late Pope.Washington Post reported.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump paid their respects to Francis, standing momentarily before the coffin. The White House revealed onSocial Media Platform x that Trump donned a blue suit with a blue tie, while the First Lady wore a black dress and veil.
Other global leaders also shared moments from the funeral on social media.
“Farewell to Pope Francis, a significant Mass at St. Peter’s Square. The unity of people from every corner of the globe. Thank you, Pope Francis. May prayers offer strength and inspire hope,” wrote Ukrainian President Zelenskyx.
Trump and Zelensky’s Meeting
Prior to the funeral on Saturday morning, Trump met with Zelensky in St. Peter’s Cathedral. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes, quite different from their last in-person encounter, which was temporarily disrupted during a heated exchange at a White House meeting.
“Today, President Trump and Zelensky had a very productive discussion,” stated White House communications director Stephen Chang on Saturday. “Details of the meeting are forthcoming.”
The White Houseshared an image of the private sitting arrangement. Before Saturday, Zelensky had posted a picture of their intense exchange, thanking Trump for the meeting.
“Good meeting. We discussed various important topics. We hope for outcomes from our discussions. We aim to safeguard our people’s lives. A complete and unconditional ceasefire. A reliable and lasting peace will help avert another conflict,” stated Zelensky. “This significant meeting could be historic should we achieve joint results.”
Trump and European Leaders
French President Emmanuel Macron briefly conversed with Trump and Zelensky before they had a sit-down together.Video shared by the White House’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino.
Additional imageson social media captured greetings exchanged with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer alongside Macron, Trump, and Zelensky. Macron continues to prioritize supporting Ukraine financially while advocating for a ceasefire amid the ongoing three-year conflict.
As per Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibiha, Zelensky met with Macron for discussions on “increased peace initiatives” following the funeral.x.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyenexpressed that she had a good conversation with several world leaders she encountered.
The President had paused all reciprocal tariffs for 90 days and had imposed a 20% tariff on items from the European Union before reverting to a 10% tariff. Von der Leyen indicated retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. would be reinstated if negotiations fail to satisfy the EU’s concerns.
Presence of Other American Officials
Former President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were seen wearing sunglasses, seated behind Trump. Biden is recognized as the second Catholic president in U.S. history, following John F. Kennedy.
Before leaving office in January, the former president awarded Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. While he planned to meet the Pope in his final month, the visit was canceled due to a devastating wildfire in California.
The two had multiple meetings throughout Biden’s presidency, fostering a strong and supportive relationship.
Accompanying Trump to Rome were Chief of Staff Susie Wills, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. They were spotted by reporters seated in the eighth row of the official section at the funeral.
Attendance of Other Global Leaders
Prince William was present at the funeral, paying his respects to the Pope. It appears Trump did not have a meeting with the British royals.
A videoshared by the White House captured the president seated across the aisle from Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Estonia’s President Ara Karis.
