The Mass was visited, on the late leader of the Catholic Church, which was reserved in the open air in Saint Peter Square, by tens of thousands of people and more than 100 official delegations, including the heads of state, such as US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelinski.
Among the attendees were senior European leaders, including the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Lian, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Cyrus Starmer.
With many world leaders, the funeral of Pope Francis has become one of the most important international meetings this year.
Below are the five most surprising moments on this day:
1. Trump micro -cluster and Zinski
One of the brightest employees was conducted during an improvised meeting in the Vatican.
In the photographs posted by KyIV, Zelensky, Trump, Macron and Starmer gathered in the Marble Hall in front of the funeral.
Trump and Zelinski also held a 15 -minute conversation face to face at St. Peter’s Cathedral. Both sat in front of each other in the middle of the marble hall, there were no assistants or consultants nearby, indicating that the conversation between them was private and straight.
White House Communications Director Stephen Chung described the meeting as a “very productive” and plans for more discussions later during the day.
This direct, and it seems that communication in the heart is severely contradictory to the last general tension between the two leaders.
In his position on the network, X Zelensky said the meeting was good and may become historical.
2. The unexpected “world sign” for Trump and Macron
In another wonderful moment, during the memorial block, Trump participated in the Catholic rituals, known as “the mark of the world”.
He exchanged his hands with his closest neighbors: the President of Finland Alexander Stop, with whom he recently played the golf in Florida, and Estonian President Alaris.
But he also held his hand to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, sitting a short distance from him.
In the Catholic Mass, the “World Mark” is implemented after the “Abna” prayer and before the secret, when the parish sons are invited to provide each other with a gesture in the world, and this shaking hands, bow or hugs is usually based on traditions.
Shaking hands with Macron has become possible due to changes in seedlings in the first row at the last minute, as the Vatican protocol was postponed to this unprecedented event.
Trump and First Lady Melania, as well as Zelinsky, received places in the front row along with other main leaders, which confirms the international importance of the funeral.
3. Trump’s second meeting with Ursula von der Line
On the steps of St. Peter’s Square, President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von Deir shake hands with the handshake.
This was the first full -time contact from January 21, 2020, when they met at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Despite the summary and restriction of the official courtesy, the reaction seemed warm, despite the recent across the Atlantic tension in the commercial tariffs.
Von Der Layen told X that she “took a good exchange of opinions” with many leaders who gathered to pay the last greeting to the father.
It is still unclear how Trump met the leaders during his short stay in Rome. It is reported that he spoke shortly with German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, as well as with William, Prince of Wales.
4. The symbolic change of the Zelinski wardrobe
Significantly changed his model military clothes for the funeral, preferring dark clothes.
As the military style preserved, Zelensky chose an elegant black jacket with front pockets and more formal pieces, associated with a dark shirt instead of the regular T shirt and dark shoes.
Since the full invasion of Russia in Ukraine in 2022, Zelinski has consistently wore unofficial military clothes as a symbol of solidarity with the soldiers at the forefront.
However, the choice of Zelensky earlier caused conflicts during his recent visit to Washington, when the reporter was asked about his informal clothes for a short period of the tone of the event.
His choice of more official funeral clothes represents a major change, although it hardly changed a noticeable change in the official event.
5. Antitramovo feelings in the sermon
During his sermon, Cardinal Giovanni Batista, Dean of the College of Cardinals, indicated that Pope Francis has always defended immigrants and margins, which some considered to be a reprimand in Trump’s president, who was present at the ceremony.
He mentioned Pope Francis visits to Lesbos and a lamp, two islands symbolizing “the migration tragedy, when thousands of people drowned in the sea”, as well as the bloc that served Pope Francis on the borders of Mexico and the United States of America.
Cardinal also repeated the continuous counseling of the Pope: “Building bridges, not walls” – a term that has been interpreted long ago as a direct criticism of Trump’s policy.
The crowd responded with automatic applause, especially during the calls of the world and dialogue in the face of war and destruction – the emotional peak of the ceremony.
“In the face of raging wars in recent years, Pope Francis has constantly raised his voice, calling for comfort, reason and sincere negotiations to search for possible decisions,” he said.