Millions of people around the world will be watching the funeral of Pope Francis I on Saturday with leaders from across the globe attending as he is laid to rest, with the Vatican revealing a full list of notable attendees.
It comes as US President Donald Trump and wife Melania touched down in Rome this evening ahead of the service, with Trump having been one of the first world leaders to confirm he would be attending. Following his death last Monday, more than 250,000 people have paid their respects to the pope over three days of public viewing by ordinary mourners and statesmen alike that ended today on the eve of his funeral in St Peter’s Square. The Vatican has said that 164 delegations are confirmed, including 54 heads of state and 12 reigning sovereigns.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who will also attend the funeral, was among those who made it in time to pay last respects to the Pope. Irish President Michael D Higgins, who will be at the funeral along with premier Micheal Martin, also went to see the pope lying in state.
Donald Trump is on his way to the Vatican for the funeral but he will have to settle for a third row in the seating arrangements. According to tradition, the two seats closest to the service are reserved for the head of state of the Pope’s home country, followed by the Italian head of state.
That means Argentina ’s Javier Gerardo Milei and Italy’s Sergio Mattarella will be the first two. The rest of the front row, and perhaps into the second, goes to royals such as the Prince of Wales, who will attend the funeral on behalf of King Charles.
Then come world leaders, heads of state and other foreign dignitaries, including Trump and Sir Keir Starmer. Royals and heads of state will be seated in French alphabetical order according to their country.
Vladimir Putin is one of the notable absentees while a latest statement from Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that he was not sure whether he would make it in time for the funeral. Putin’s absence could be tied to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against him and he instead sent a message praising Francis as a “defender of humanism”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also not expected to be at the funeral with the country represented by ambassador Yaron Sideman. There has been no response from China about whether a representative will be attending the funeral with President Xi Jinping having not travelled.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales, who will take part in his first conclave to elect a new pope in the coming weeks, said the funeral organisers are well-used to dealing with the sensitivities of such big events. He said the funeral will be “without a doubt another masterpiece of stage management when you consider those state leaders who have high opinions of their importance”.
He added: “In the past, I’ve seen it here over and over again that the combination of Rome and the Holy See, they actually are geniuses at dealing with these big events. I think they’ve been doing it since the emperors ruled Rome – that they know how to deal with big egos. And I think every leader of a nation that comes here on Saturday will go home reasonably content.”
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