Round 200,000 mourners flooded the streets of Rome to bid farewell to Pope Francis, extensively referred to as the “Folks’s Pope,” at his funeral in St. Peter’s Sq. on Saturday morning. Dignitaries, heads of state and reigning monarchs have been amongst these with reserved seats on the funeral Mass, together with President Trump and first woman Melania Trump.
With delegations from about 130 nations on the ceremony, the seating chart needed to be deliberate accordingly. Here is the way it labored:
How Pope Francis’ funeral seating chart was organized
Argentina’s President Javier Milei (R) and different leaders look on as pallbearers put together to carry the coffin throughout late Pope Francis’ funeral ceremony at St Peter’s Sq. on the Vatican on April 26, 2025. / Credit score: Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP
The official delegations have been seated in a particular part to the precise of the altar exterior of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Francis made history as the primary pontiff from South America. So it was solely becoming that Argentina – Francis’ native nation – was represented within the entrance row with Argentine President Javier Milei. Milei sat subsequent to his sister, Karina, who serves as common secretary of the presidency. Subsequent to them was Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who was seated up entrance as a result of the pope is the bishop of Rome.
The seating preparations following Italy have been then based mostly on the French diplomatic alphabetical order. So, for instance, the US would not be “U,” it might be “E” after the French translation “États-Unis.” According to Reuters, reigning monarchs got precedence over different heads of state within the order.
The place was Donald Trump sitting on the pope’s funeral?
President Donald Trump, first woman Melania Trump, Estonian President Alar Karis, King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Sq. on April 26, 2025. / Credit score: Getty Photographs
Mr. Trump and the primary woman walked into St. Peter’s Sq. and have been directed to their entrance row seats round 4 a.m. ET, forward of the service. They have been seated subsequent to Estonian President Alar Karis, King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain. Throughout the aisle, to their proper, was Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, with whom he was seen talking initially of the ceremony.
As many identified on-line, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy was additionally seated within the entrance row – an aisle over from Mr. Trump. Photographs from the funeral present Zelenskyy was 10 seats away from Mr. Trump. Interactions between the pair have been carefully watched ever since their heated Oval Office exchange over the warfare in Ukraine in late February.
The White Home revealed on Monday that Mr. Trump and Zelenskyy had a personal assembly within the Vatican earlier than they took their seats on the funeral service. The Trump administration described it as a “very productive dialogue.” Zelenskyy agreed it was a “good assembly” and mentioned in a statement on social media that they “mentioned so much.”
Olena Zelenska, lirst woman of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine (L), first woman of France Brigitte Macron, President of France Emmanuel Macron (C), first woman Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump look on because the coffin leaves St. Peter’s Sq. in the course of the funeral of Pope Francis, on April 26, 2025. / Credit score: Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis through Getty Photographs
Former President Joe Biden and former first woman Jill Biden additionally went to Rome to pay their respects to Francis. He was sitting 4 rows behind Mr. Trump, the BBC reports.
Right here have been another notable leaders in attendance:
Britain’s Prince William U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir StarmerFrench President Emmanuel MacronGermany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf ScholzItalian Prime Minister Giorgia MeloniUnited Nations Secretary Basic Antonio GuterresEU Fee chief Ursula von der LeyenEuropean Council President Antonio CostaBrazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da SilvaHonduras’ President Xiomara CastroPhilippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.India’s president Droupadi MurmuPresident of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange TouaderaPresident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix TshisekediPresident of Cape Verde, Jose Maria Neves
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