The upcoming funeral of Pope Francis will be a historic gathering of world leaders, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
President Donald Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, might share an awkward moment at Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday as the two are expected to be seated close by, in the third row, according to the funeral seating plan. While the Vatican has not released official details yet, Polish pontiff John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 offers insights into seating arrangements.
Several heads of state, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, are expected to attend the pope’s funeral. Delegations from over 130 countries and at least 10 reigning monarchs will also be in Rome.
However, like John Paul II’s funeral, foreign leaders are expected to be seated on one side of Pope Francis’ coffin and members of the church on the other. The Telegraph studied previous Vatican funerals to report that royals like Prince William and monarchs from Sweden and Norway would be seated in the front two rows.
Global leaders at the funeral
World leaders, including Trump and Biden, might have to share seats on the third row.
“For the funeral of John Paul II, Catholic European royalty, such as the King and Queen of Spain and those of Belgium, were given priority and seated at the front,” Catherine Pepinster, a former editor of The Tablet and a commentator on the Catholic Church, told The Telegraph.
“Next came the non-Catholic royalty – so Prince Charles, representing his mother, Elizabeth II, along with the Scandinavians and the Dutch. Then came the foreign dignitaries such as the US president, who at the time was George W. Bush,” he added.
Other figures expected to be in attendance include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron
Biden to attend Pope Francis’ funeral
NewsNation cited a Biden spokesperson to report that the former president and his wife, Jill Biden, are expected to attend the funeral in Rome. The 82-year-old was the second Roman Catholic president of the US after President Kennedy. He also met with Francis on several occasions.
