Vatican City, April 26, 2025 — A quarter of a million mourners filled St. Peter’s Square on Saturday to bid a final farewell to Pope Francis during his Requiem Mass, a poignant event that drew an array of world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The gathering underscored the late pontiff’s global influence and his legacy of humility, while also reflecting the complex geopolitical dynamics of the moment.
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, was laid to rest in a simple wooden casket, a fitting symbol for a leader who lived with just $100 to his name, owned no property, held no personal bank accounts, and rejected his 340,000-euro annual salary as pope. Throughout his 12-year papacy, Francis, a member of the Society of Jesus, honored his lifelong vow of poverty, residing in the modest Room 201 of Casa Santa Marta rather than the opulent Apostolic Palace. His funeral, following days of lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, drew faithful from around the world, as well as dignitaries who paid their respects to the “People’s Pope.”
Among the notable attendees captured in a widely shared image on X by user @views09_ were Presidents Trump, Macron, Starmer, and Zelenskyy, standing together in a rare moment of unity. The presence of these leaders highlighted the global resonance of Francis’s message of peace and humility, but it also brought into focus the intricate political relationships at play. Former U.S. President Joe Biden and former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were also in attendance, alongside figures like HRH Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and President of India Droupadi Murmu, reflecting the broad spectrum of international representation.
The appearance of Trump and Zelenskyy together was particularly striking, given their historically fraught relationship. Tensions between the two have been well-documented, especially amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, recent diplomatic efforts by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been pushing a “coalition of the willing” to secure a Ukraine ceasefire since March 2025, may have facilitated this moment of détente. According to a Politico report from March 20, 2025, Starmer has been working alongside Macron to isolate Russia as the primary obstacle to peace, even as the U.S. and Russia have sidelined European efforts. A day before the funeral, on April 25, 2025, NPR reported that Trump called for high-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, noting that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S.-brokered 30-day ceasefire, while Russia intensified attacks, killing dozens in Ukrainian cities.
Zelenskyy’s attire at the funeral drew significant attention on X, with users like @ryan_dean09 and @maxGeeO6O7 noting his choice of casual, military-style clothing—a stark contrast to the formal suits worn by Trump, Macron, and Starmer. This sartorial decision aligns with Zelenskyy’s consistent image as a wartime leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A 2023 Washington Post article on military attire in politics contextualizes this choice, noting that leaders like Zelenskyy use such clothing to signal resilience and authority without the authoritarian connotations of a general’s uniform, drawing parallels to historical figures like Yasser Arafat.
The funeral also served as a backdrop for subtle diplomatic moments. An X post by @views09_ mentioned a “first miracle” attributed to Pope Francis after his passing, referencing a private meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in St. Peter’s Basilica. While the details of their discussion remain undisclosed, the encounter—facilitated by the neutral ground of the Vatican—hints at a potential thaw in U.S.-Ukraine relations, a development that could have broader implications for the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Pope Francis’s Requiem Mass was a moment of global reflection, not only on his spiritual legacy but also on the state of the world he left behind. In 2020, he stood alone in St. Peter’s Square, praying for the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Five years later, the world gathered to pray for him, a testament to his enduring impact. As the conclave to elect his successor looms, the presence of these leaders at his funeral underscores the delicate balance of faith, diplomacy, and power on the global stage.
