Who Was at Pope Francis’ Funeral and Where Did They Sit?

Numerous world leaders and royals have gathered in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral.

Among the most prominent figures at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square on Saturday morning were Prince William, US President Donald and his predecessor Joe Biden, Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Their attendance comes at a fragile time for international diplomacy, with Trump meeting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky before the service, according to Zelensky’s spokesman.

Here are some pictures of the VIP attendees.

Trump and Zelensky 10 seats apart

Trump was in a front-row seat near Francis’ coffin, alongside his wife Melania Trump, across the aisle from Macron and his wife Brigitte.

Intriguingly, he and First Lady Melania were sitting between two staunch supporters of Ukraine. Estonia’s President Alar Karis was to Melania’s left, and Finland’s Alexander Stubb to Trump’s right.

The Trumps sandwiched by Finland’s Alexander Stubb (to the left of this image) and Estonia’s President Alar Karis (right)/Screengrab

Estonia and Finland are both staunch allies of another man of the moment in attendance – Zelensky, who looked sombre-faced at the Vatican. He was sitting on the same row as Macron, separated by a few other dignitaries.

Zelensky, who has been locked in negotiations and public arguments with Trump in recent weeks, was just 10 seats and one aisle away from him, on the same row.

The VIPs were in a separate section from the hundreds of thousands of members of the public who have descended on Rome for the event.

Dignitaries were sitting on the the right-hand side of the square, next to St Peter’s Basilica.

Those with the best seats were Javier Milei, president of Argentina, where Francis was from, and Italy’s prime minister and president, representing the country that surrounds the Vatican City state.

Behind them were reigning sovereigns, and other delegations were seated in alphabetical order in French, the official language of diplomacy, on other benches.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella (left), Argentina’s General Secretary of the Presidency Karina Milei (left of centre) and Argentina’s President Javier Milei (centre) in their prime seats/Screengrab

Representing British royalty, the Prince of Wales was sitting next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the service.

Prince William (centre) seated next to Scholz (right)/Screengrab

Starmer arrived in conversation with his wife Victoria.

Former US President Joe Biden was seen hand in hand with his wife Jill. He was sitting four rows behind Trump.

Many European leaders, as well as European royalty, were in attendance.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron and France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron/Screengrab

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was at the proceedings, and was seen chatting with Macron.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the funeral/Screengrab

Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit/ Screengrab

Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia/Screengrab