Zelenskyy appears to receive applause as leaders gather for Pope’s funeral
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky and other guests arrive, for the funeral of Pope Francis (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to receive a round of applause as he attended the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.
The crowd of assembled world leaders could be heard clapping as the Ukrainian president left St Peter’s Basilica, where he had paid his respects in front of the pontiff’s coffin ahead of the funeral ceremony.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were also among the leaders who filed past the Pope’s casket before the funeral.
He and Mr Zelensky met before the funeral and are expected to do so again afterwards, according to Ukrainian officials.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the pair “had a very productive discussion” when they met.
Britain's Keir Starmer and Prince William – who is attending on behalf of King Charles – did the same before joining the congregation in St Peter’s Square, estimated by the Vatican at 200,000, for the open-air funeral mass.
It is the first time William has represented the monarch at an international funeral.
The British prime minister was joined in the sunshine of St Peter’s Square by his wife Victoria and the foreign secretary David Lammy.
President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina today paid their respects to His Holiness Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican pic.twitter.com/pbII1yn1Vm
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) April 25, 2025
President Michael D Higgins was joined by Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris in paying respects to the Pope inside St Peter’s.
The funeral began shortly after world leaders had taken their seats in the square.
The seating plan was based on a complex order of precedence, with Argentina – the country of the Pope’s birth – and Italy at the front.
Other sovereigns, heads of state, and heads of government were then seated in alphabetical order of their countries’ names in the French language – used because French is considered the language of diplomacy.
