Among the many tens of 1000’s of individuals in St. Peter’s Sq. on Saturday for Pope Francis’ funeral have been monarchs, world leaders, not less than one former president and different acquainted faces.
Filling up the rows of nondescript chairs, according to Vatican protocol, reigning monarchs went first, together with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Then got here heads of state, in alphabetical order in line with the title of their nation in French.
Solely Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy and President Javier Milei of the pope’s native Argentina had precedence seating towards the entrance.
Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron of France sat throughout an aisle from President Trump, and Melania Trump, the primary woman, and the 2 presidents shook palms at one level within the service. Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., a Catholic, sat farther away with Jill Biden, the previous first woman.
Crowds watching on massive screens across the sq. applauded when President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine took his seat. Leaders from Africa and Asia, areas the place the Catholic Church is rising, additionally took their seats, together with President William Ruto of Kenya and President Droupadi Murmu of India.
Different royals who aren’t heads of state, together with Prince William, sat in a bunch simply in entrance of visiting authorities ministers and different dignitaries.
Away from the world leaders, among the many crowds, Julian Assange, the founding father of WikiLeaks who was imprisoned after his web site revealed secret authorities paperwork within the 2010s, paid tribute to Francis together with his household.
“Now Julian is free, we’ve all come to Rome to specific our household’s gratitude for the Pope’s assist throughout Julian’s persecution,” learn a message on social media attributed to his spouse, Stella Assange. The put up stated that the pope had written to Mr. Assange whereas he was in jail.
