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Vatican Adjusts Protocol for Zelensky at Pope’s Funeral: Trump Seated Nearby
In a notable adjustment to protocol, the Vatican positioned Volodymyr Zelensky in the front row at Pope Francis’s funeral, just eleven seats away from Donald Trump. This arrangement, along with the placement of other prominent figures such as Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, was part of what insiders described as a meticulously planned seating strategy aimed at managing “big egos.” The strategic seating at the funeral was an exercise in diplomatic balance.
Strategic Seating Arrangements
While there was speculation suggesting Trump might be placed in the third row – a location he could have perceived as a slight – the former leader of the United States was ultimately situated in a prominent, central position for the service. However, a deliberate exception appeared to have been made for Zelensky. His placement at the front was a deviation from standard protocol, which would have typically placed him further back.
Vatican’s Response
The Vatican did not dispute that protocol had been altered. Spokesperson Matteo Bruni acknowledged to The Telegraph, “I believe they filled a vacant place.”
The identity of the individual who missed the event remains undisclosed, though speculation suggested it could have been members of the Dutch royal family. They were seen celebrating King’s Day among their citizens, adorned in festive attire. The **Pope’s funeral seating** was carefully considered.
Front Row Dignitaries
Alongside Trump and former First Lady Melania , the front row also included:
- President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins
- Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky (attending after a last-minute decision)
- Argentina’s Javier Milei, who was given a primary position near the humble wooden casket.
Milei’s close proximity to the casket was attributed to Pope Francis’s Argentinian heritage; he was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in December 1936 and the **funeral seating arrangements** reflected this connection.
Italian Representation
Following Argentina, precedence was given to Italy, given the Pope’s role as the bishop of Rome. Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura occupied seats adjacent to the Argentine leader, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni seated directly behind them.
Other Notable Attendees
Leaders from countries including Albania and Angola stood alongside President Mattarella.
Prince William, representing King Charles III, was positioned alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, two rows behind Javier Milei and his sister Karina Milei, Argentina’s General Secretary of the Presidency.
Sir Keir Starmer, accompanied by his wife Victoria, was seated several rows back, reflecting the Vatican’s protocol of prioritizing heads of state over heads of government, a standard also applied to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
The Vatican’s Diplomatic Strategy
The idea that countries such as the UK were slighted is not entirely accurate. Vatican planners employed a meticulous diplomatic strategy in arranging the seating order. The Vatican’s seating strategy at the **Pope’s funeral** was intricate.
Prioritization of Heads of State
For dignitaries, seated opposite senior clergy, the Vatican prioritizes reigning monarchs and heads of state over heads of government. Presidents, kings, and queens are given precedence over prime ministers.
French Alphabetical Order
Even within these categories, a further order is applied. Despite designating Latin and Italian as its official languages, the Vatican arranges seating in French alphabetical order, leveraging French’s historical role as the language of European diplomacy.
Consequently, the United States becomes “les États-Unis,” Germany becomes “Allemagne,” and the United Kingdom shifts further back as “Royaume-Uni.” This explains Trump’s prominent position and the placement of government heads further back in less conspicuous seats. The meticulous nature of the **Pope’s funeral arrangements** was clearly evident
Next to Milei sat Joan-Enric Vives i Sicilia, a Catholic prelate and co-Prince of Andorra, Bajram Begaj, the president of Albania, and João Lourenço, president of Angola.
The Zelensky Exception
However, President Zelensky’s front-row placement despite Ukraine’s unchanged name in French (“Ukraine”) raises questions. Seated between France and Ireland, his placement seemed to deviate from established rules.
When asked for comment, the Vatican did not deny the exception, with spokesperson Matteo Bruni stating, “I believe they filled a vacant place.”
Past Criticisms of the Pope’s Stance on Ukraine
The late Pope drew criticism before his death for suggesting Ukraine consider “the courage of the white flag” and pursue peace with Russia, a proposal rejected by Ukrainians. Francis also stopped short of directly condemning Vladimir Putin as the aggressor in the conflict.
UK Representation
There was no special treatment for Britain, however. Sir Keir, Lady Victoria and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have found themselves squashed in between dignitaries from Qatar and Serbia.
Additional VIPs and Diplomacy
Joe Biden, a lifelong Catholic and former US President, also attended with his wife Jill, seated approximately five rows behind Donald Trump. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni clarified that no seating order distinctions were made between Catholic and non-Catholic royalty.
The gathering of world leaders facilitated diplomacy beyond the formal seating arrangements. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a face-to-face conversation before the funeral, potentially laying groundwork for future talks aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Further discussions are anticipated following their prior White House disagreements. The pair were also seen chatting with Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer. The PM agreed to ‘maintain momentum and continue working intensively’ on efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, Downing Street said. The **seating chart Pope funeral** was just one facet of the diplomatic event.