(NewsNation) — Pope Francis’ funeral was held Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, drawing upward of 200,000 people, according to the Vatican. The pontiff died of a stroke at age 88 on Easter Monday.
Many world dignitaries attended his funeral Mass.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral.
“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. We look forward to being there,” Trump wrote on Truth Social prior to Saturday.
The White House posted images on X of the president and first lady meeting with Francis in 2017 and Vice President JD Vance’s recent meeting, writing, “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.”
Vice President JD Vance did not attend.
The Bidens
President Joe Biden and former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were present.
Prince William
The Prince of Wales was at the pontiff’s funeral on behalf of King Charles III, who is battling cancer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Despite the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid respects to the pope at his funeral Mass on Saturday.
French President Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron was pictured shaking hands with Trump at Francis’ funeral.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella
The Italian president made an appearance.
Argentine President Javier Milei
Argentine President Javier Milei was also there.
Milei wrote on X on Monday, “Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honour for me.”
Other world leaders at Pope Francis’ funeral included:
- British Prime Minister Keir Stramer
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Janja Lula de Silva
- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Hungarian Presidant Tamas Sulyok
- Polish President Andrzej Duda
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics
- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda
- Romanian Interim President Ilie Bolojan
- Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia
- Switzerland’s President Karin Keller-Sutter
- European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa, Parliament President Roberta Metsola
- East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito Freitas
- Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Prime Minister Bart De Wever
- Japan’s Foreign Minister Esteri Takeshi Iwaya
The Associated Press contributed to this report.