A huge security operation was in place as presidents and prime ministers flocked to the Vatican for Francis’s funeral.
Saturday 26 April 2025 18:21, UK
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The Pope’s funeral has taken place in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. Pope Francis had been critical of Mr Trump at times during his tenure. The Ukrainian president, who met the Pope three times, was there with his wife – and there was an outbreak of applause for him when he arrived. The Italian premier, along Argentine leader Javier Milei (below) had place of pride in the seating order for the service. The president of Pope Francis’s native Argentina was also at the ceremony, despite attacking Francis in recent years.
A pope’s funeral traditionally brings a host of world leaders together, and many were in attendance today as part of a crowd of about 250,000.
Here’s a look at the list.
Prince William<\/strong><\/a>
The Prince of Wales attended on behalf of the King<\/strong><\/a>.
King Charles was in Rome earlier this month<\/strong><\/a> and met the pontiff at the Vatican as the 88-year-old was recovering from a long hospital stay with pneumonia.
Sir Keir Starmer<\/strong><\/a>
The prime minister was at the funeral with his wife Victoria.
Speaking on Tuesday, Sir Keir said there had been “an outpouring of grief and love” for the Pope.
He added: “I think it reflects the high esteem in which he was held, not just by millions and millions of Catholics, but by many others, across the world, myself included.”
Donald Trump<\/strong><\/a>
The US president was joined by first lady Melania Trump and was seen shaking hands with world leaders including France’s president.
He also held informal talks with Ukraine’s leader in St Peter’s Basilica before the service.
The pair were pictured sitting face-to-face in the famous church and Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said the discussion could prove to be “historic”<\/a><\/strong> if it leads to peace.
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In January, he said it would be a “disgrace” if the president went ahead with his crackdown on immigration.
Read more:
The Pope’s funeral: In pictures<\/a><\/strong>
Who could be the next pope?<\/a><\/strong>
Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/strong><\/a>
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Mr Zelenskyy has said his country is grieving the Pope and recalled how he often prayed for peace in Ukraine.
His spokesman said the meeting with President Trump lasted for around 15 minutes.
Emmanuel Macron<\/strong><\/a>
French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the funeral with his wife Brigitte.
In his tribute on Monday, Mr Macron said of the Pope: “In this time of war and brutality, he had a sense for the other, for the most fragile.”
Giorgia Meloni<\/a><\/strong>
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The Vatican is, of course, surrounded by the Italian capital Rome, while the Pope was born and grew up in Argentina and was once Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Javier Milei<\/strong><\/a>
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In December 2023, the far-right politician called him “an imbecile, the representative of evil on Earth”.
Mr Milei alluded to their “differences” in his tribute to the late Pope, writing: “It is with profound sorrow that I learned this sad morning that Pope Francis, Jorge Bergoglio, passed away today and is now resting in peace.
“Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his goodness and wisdom was a true honour for me.”
Joe Biden<\/a><\/strong>
Former US president Joe Biden, 82, was at the funeral with his wife Jill. The couple were seen taking their places in the bright sunshine prior to the service.
Mr Biden appeared to be getting some help to his seat, taking the arm of a member of the church.
Lula da Silva<\/a><\/strong>
The Brazilian president and first lady Janja Lula da Silva were also there.
Brazil has also declared a seven-day mourning period for the Pope.
“Humanity is today losing a voice of respect and welcome for others,” the president said in his tribute.
“Pope Francis lived and propagated in his daily life the love, tolerance and solidarity that are the basis of Christian teachings.”
Ursula von der Leyen<\/strong><\/a>
The EU’s top official, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, called Francis a worldwide inspiration.
“He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate,” she said in a tribute.
Other notable attendees:<\/strong>
• Ireland’s taoiseach Micheal Martin
• Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia
• Albanian president Bajram Begaj
• Angola’s president Joao Lourenco
• Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen
• Bangladesh’s chief adviser and interim leader Muhammad Yunus
• Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, along with prime minister Bart De Wever
• Canada’s governor general Mary Simon
• Cape Verde president Jose Maria Neves
• Croatia’s president Zoran Milanovic
• Cyprian president Nikos Christodoulides
• Czech Republic’s prime minister Petr Fiala
• Democratic Republic of Congo president Felix Tshisekedi
• Dominican Republic’s president Luis Abinader
• East Timor’s president Jose Ramos-Horta
• Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa
• Estonia’s president Alar Karis
• Finland’s president Alexander Stubb
• Gabon’s president Brice Oligui Nguema
• German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz
• Greece’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
• Honduras president Xiomara Castro
• Hungary’s president Tamas Sulyok
• Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella
• Latvian president Edgars Rinkevics
• Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda
• Moldova’s president Maia Sandu
• Netherlands’ prime minister Dick Schoof
• New Zealand’s prime minister Christopher Luxon
• Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
• The Philippines’ president Ferdinand Marcos Jr
• Poland’s president Andrzej Duda
• Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and prime minister Luis Montenegro
• Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan
• Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and prime minister Ulf Kristersson
• Switzerland’s president Karin Keller-Sutter
Vladimir Putin<\/a><\/strong>
The Russian president did not attend.
But the controversial leader paid tribute to the Pope, writing a message to Cardinal Kevin Farrell<\/strong><\/a>, who is interim chief of the Catholic Church.
“Please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,” Mr Putin said.
“Throughout the years of his pontificate, he actively promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian
Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See.”
Benjamin Netanyahu<\/strong><\/a>
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also did not attend, with the country’s ambassador Yaron Sideman going instead.
The Jewish state and the Vatican have had strong relations in the past, with Israel sending a presidential delegation to the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, and Pope Francis visiting Israel in 2014.
But their relationship has deteriorated since the start of the war in Gaza.
A month after the conflict started in 2023, a dispute broke out over whether Pope Francis had used the word “genocide” to describe events in Gaza. Palestinians who met with him said he did, but the Vatican said he did not.
The Pope met relatives of Israeli hostages on the same day.
Israeli officials have since lobbied the Vatican to be more forceful in its condemnation of Hamas.
In January, the Pope called the humanitarian situation in Gaza “shameful”, prompting criticism from Rome’s chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, who accused Francis of “selective indignation”.
Rabbi Di Segni said he would be attending the funeral, despite it taking place on the Jewish sabbath.<\/p>\n