Despite being one of the first world leaders to confirm his attendance, U.S. President Donald Trump will not receive a front-row seat at Pope Francis’ funeral, in line with Vatican protocol.
Leaders from around the world are expected to arrive in Rome on Saturday to pay their respects, with delegations from about 130 countries — including 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs — attending the solemn event. While many high-profile dignitaries will be seated close to the Pope’s coffin, Trump is expected to be placed in a third-tier section reserved for former or lower-ranking officials.
According to the Vatican’s seating plan, foreign dignitaries will be arranged on one side of the coffin, while senior Catholic clergy — archbishops, bishops, patriarchs, and cardinals — will be seated opposite. Trump may not even make the second row, despite his early confirmation.
Reacting to the news, Trump commented, “If I were president, they wouldn’t have sat me back there — and our Country would be much different than it is right now.” He also remarked that the event could be “a good time for our president to get to know the leaders of certain Third World countries,” before concluding: “In real estate, like in politics and in life, location is everything.”
The funeral is expected to be the largest gathering of world leaders since Trump’s own inauguration in January.
Catherine Pepinster, former editor of The Tablet and a Vatican expert, noted that such events often bring together leaders who typically don’t cross paths. She told The Telegraph that the Holy See’s broad diplomatic ties — including with countries like Russia and Iran — could lead to unexpected encounters among global figures either during the ceremony or the events leading up to it.
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