Bogdan Frolov20:10, 26.04.25

World leaders are arranged according to special ancient rules.

The Vatican broke protocol to provide Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a front-row seat at Pope Francis’ funeral alongside US and French presidents Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron.

The Ukrainian leader was greeted with spontaneous applause as he took his seat in St. Peter’s Square after a brief meeting with Trump – their first meeting since the Oval Office row, The Telegraph writes .

It is reported that special measures may have been taken to ensure that Zelenskyy was the center of attention at the ceremony, where most leaders were seated according to the name of their country and status – head of state or head of government.

Although the old rules dictate that world leaders be seated alphabetically by their country’s name in French, the traditional language of diplomacy when these protocols were drawn up, Zelensky could have expected to sit in the third row or even further back. Instead, he found himself in the front row, not far from Trump, who sat to his right.

The Vatican did not deny that the protocol had been changed. “I believe they simply filled a vacancy,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told the publication.

Who else was present at the ceremony?

Between Zelensky and Trump sat, among others, the presidents of India, Hungary, Gabon, as well as Macron and his wife Brigitte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. To the right of Trump and his wife Melania were Estonian President Alar Karis and King Felipe VI of Spain.

To Zelensky’s right was Irish President Michael Dee Higgins. In other cases, protocol was strictly followed: for example, Argentine President Javier Milley sat at the very edge of the front row next to a Swiss Guard.

The Prince of Wales, representing the King, was seated in the third row next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is head of government, not head of state.

Also in attendance were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, as well as former US President Joe Biden, who sat in the fifth row. Italian President Sergio Mattarella was in the front row, with the country’s Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni sitting further back, in accordance with protocol separating heads of state and heads of government.

What else is known about Zelensky’s presence at the funeral of Pope Francis?

UNIAN previously reported that Zelensky held talks with Trump in Rome. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes. Former British Ambassador to Russia Sir Tony Brenton said that this event opens up diplomatic opportunities.

According to the diplomat, this meeting, after a public dispute at the White House, could be an “important step” in the beginning of the peace process between Russia and Ukraine.

In addition, Zelensky met with Macron one-on-one in Rome . They discussed continuing efforts to find ways to peace.

(C)UNIAN 2025