ROME (AP)— Assembled in Rome on the weekend were over fifty heads of state and other international dignitaries, which included Donald Trump, who attended Pope Francis’s funeral. In his lifetime, there were several notable public disagreements he had with venerable Roman Catholic leaders in regard to significant matters. Pope Francis passed away, after suffering a stroke, on Monday at the age of 88.
Showing Sorrow While Disagreeing
Trump arrived with the First Lady, Melania Trump for the outdoor service and was seated in the front row next to French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended along with other world leaders. His presence showcased to the world that he is paying tribute to the religious person even though they held a contentious relationship. There were several disagreements between Pope Francis and Trump but the trumping ones were the immigration policies and treatment of migrants. The two notably clashed in 2016 due to conflicts over immigration policies.
During a period when the now-candidate Trump had been making wall-building campaign promises, the Pope mentioned how any person who builds walls to keep out migrants is “not Christian.” Trump, who at the time was extremely displeased with the statement, called it “disgraceful.” After the death of Pope Francis, the Republican president switched his tone, giving praise to Francis, stating he was a “good man” who “worked hard” and “loved the world.” In addition, President Trump ordered the U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in memorial of the pontiff, which also marked a form of honor.
Brief Encounter with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
President Trump and Zelenskyy had a scheduled private discussion during the latter part of the Trump funeral. The occurrence of this private discussion was confirmed by both the White House and President Zelenskyy’s office. White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the discussion, noting that both sides “met privately today and had a very productive discussion.” He further stated that he is bound to disclose details in the future.
This meeting happened within the framework of Trump’s expressed attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, adding a diplomatic layer to his Rome visit, and it happened before the funeral service started.
An Assembly of Global Leaders
The funeral service of Pope Francis drew numerous world leaders and notable individuals to Rome. Along with the American delegation and President Trump, the leaders from France, the UK, Spain, Hungary, Argentina, and more than fifty other countries were present. Another remarkable participant at the funeral was former U.S. president Joe Biden, a Catholic who attended the funeral with his wife, Jill. Mr. Biden sat a few rows back from President Trump for the outdoor ceremony. Trump remarked before the funeral that he was not aware of Biden’s presence.
When inquired whether he expected any encounters with President Biden, Trump responded with, “It’s not high on my list. It’s really not.” Usually, papal funerals do not invoke in-theory or in-practice gatherings of both sitting and former presidents of the United States, which would be considered atypical. Spokespeople for Obama and Bush confirmed they would not be attending the service and a spokesperson for Clinton remained silent on whether he’d be attending.
Trump’s Statements on Bilateral Discussions
Washington rumors suggest that Trump may be planning to engage in “multiple” discussions with global leaders concerning official business talk related to global matters during his upcoming funeral trip, although the First Lady’s Office indicates that he has made these comments before. Furthermore, they noted that as he was boarding Air Force One en route to Rome, he softened his position, stating that “it would be disrespectful to have discussions during a papal funeral.” Regardless, he asserted that “there are many things you can do aside from meetings,” indicating that he would interact with attendees and see numerous participants at the event, as he repeatedly claimed throughout the week.
When questioned regarding the structure of these engagements, Trump said that the events held “revealed too many constraints on how to engage and when,” considering that with his restricted timeframe, his fresh arrival in Italy on Friday placed additional constraints as he needed to head straight to the U.S. after the ceremony. He expressed his plan to engage with particular important people by stating, “I think that we’re going to try and see a couple of people that are important in what we’re doing.” He attached these possible discussions to his ongoing diplomatic activities, which included attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and trade relations with several countries.
Zelenskyy’s Attendance and Background of Ukraine
After President Trump had been escorted to his place for the funeral service, he was seen followed closely by President Zelenskyy, who exited St. Peter’s Basilica seconds later. Some audience members who had gathered outside the ceremony clapped as the Ukrainian president walked in. President Zelenskyy’s participation together with his short engagement with Trump must be seen in relation to the wider framework of diplomacy efforts regarding Ukraine’s war.
Not long after President Trump landed in Rome, he announced on X that potentates from Ukraine and Russia ought to be summoned for ‘very high-level talks’ to try and work out an end to what he defined as ‘a bloody three-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion.’ On the prior Friday, President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met President Putin in Moscow. Though President Putin personally did not show up for the funeral service of Pope Francis, President Trump has remarked that both parties were ‘very close to a deal.’
