Trump, Assange, and 250,000 Others: The Surprising Guest List at Pope Francis' Funeral

The funeral of Pope Francis provided Catholics worldwide with an opportunity bid farewell for a cherished pope – and for global leaders to mingle during a critical period for worldwide diplomatic relations.

Over 250,000 individuals filled St. Peter's Square for the ceremony on Saturday, according to the Vatican, joining together with 55 government leaders to grieve.

The day’s most extraordinary meeting arrived mere moments prior to the commencement of the service. President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky conducted what both American and Ukrainian authorities characterized as a "fruitful" conversation inside St. Peter’s Basilica, shortly before Pope Francis' casket was carried into the square.

Therefore, what transpired, which individuals encountered each other, and where were they seated?

What did the seating arrangement look like?

St. Peter's Square was divided into four sections. At the forefront, closest to the basilica, were dignitaries, cardinals, and bishops, with clergy members and the general public positioned slightly behind them. The coffin was situated before the main altar.

Beyond the seating areas, thousands more people crammed into the square, remaining on their feet for over two hours amidst the warm Italian weather.

In the VIP area, the politicians were seated alphabetically according to their names in French, which is traditionally used as the language of diplomacy.

This meant that Trump – president of “États-Unis d’Amerique” – sat between the presidents of Finland and Estonia, two nations that share borders with Russia, and which will be especially wary of a reduced US military footprint in Europe.

In March, Finland’s President, Alexander Stubb, participated in a game of golf with Trump during his unofficial visit to Florida. Trump commented that Stubb was "a very skilled golfer." According to the Finnish presidential office, they also talked about issues related to European security, particularly concerning Ukraine.

On Saturday's "Sign of Peace," when attendees exchange handshakes and greetings like "peace be with you" with those around them, Trump was spotted greeting multiple global leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron.

The sole exceptions to the alphabetical seating arrangement for the dignitaries were representatives from Italy—the home country—and Argentina—Pope Francis' homeland. The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Argentine President, Javier Milei, were seated towards the front alongside several other officials grouped together.

What occurred during the meeting between Trump and Zelensky?

During their initial encounter since the contentious meeting at the Oval Office in February, Trump and Zelensky engaged in an intense conversation without staff present, within the opulent setting of St. Peter’s Basilica just prior to the commencement of the service.

The White House and the Office of the President of Ukraine both mentioned that their discussion lasted approximately 15 minutes and characterized it as positive. Zelensky referred to the encounter as "symbolic," noting that it could be considered historic should they attain shared outcomes. When Zelensky entered the square, the audience erupted into cheers.

"We had extensive one-on-one discussions. We're looking forward to seeing outcomes for all the topics we addressed. Our focus is safeguarding the lives of our citizens. A complete and unconditional cessation of hostilities. Achieving a dependable and enduring peace that prevents any future conflict," Zelensky posted on X.

President Donald Trump and his wife Melania quickly departed from Rome following the conclusion of the ceremony, indicating that they did not engage in additional talks. Subsequently, President Volodymyr Zelensky had meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. These four leaders appeared together inside the basilica post their bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

Who else was there?

Britain's Prince William was part of a series of royal attendees at Saturday’s event. As the heir apparent to the British crown, he took his seat beside Olaf Scholz, who is stepping down as the German Chancellor. Also present were Spain’s reigning monarchs, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, along with Queen Mary of Denmark.

The Polish President Andrzej Duda and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán joined various other European leaders present at the event. Among the South American attendees were Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — known for his strong bond with Francis — along with Ecuador’s newly re-elected leader, Daniel Noboa.

Several leaders of global organizations were present as well, such as Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who leads the World Health Organization—Trump had withdrawn the U.S. from this organization in January—and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Julian Assange, who rarely makes public appearances, was spotted recently along with his spouse, Stella, and their two offspring at the Vatican. This sighting came after his release from Britain’s Belmarsh prison earlier this year.

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