U.S. President Donald Trump will not get a front seat at Pope Francis’ funeral under the Vatican agreement.
The world’s top leaders will step into Rome on Saturday to attend tens of thousands of Catholic mourners along with the Pope’s meticulous funeral.
Although one of the first heads of state to confirm his participation in the Historical Memorial, Trump is expected to be transferred to his third noble tour.
Foreign VIPs will sit on the side of Francis’ coffin, while the Archbishop, bishop, patriarch and cardinal will sit opposite them. However, the Vatican agreement suggests that when Trump arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday morning, he may not even be placed in the second row.
Delegations from about 130 countries, including 50 heads of state and 10 ruling monarchs, are heading to Rome to attend the pope’s funeral after his death on Monday.
“But, it’s a good time for us presidents to understand leaders in certain third world countries.” Trump claimed that if he was president, things would be different, adding: “If I were president, they wouldn’t be sitting there – our country would be very different than it is now. ::”
“In real estate, just like in politics and life, location is everything,” he concluded. The pope’s funeral will mark the biggest gathering of world leaders since Trump’s inauguration in January.
Catherine Pepinster, former editor of the tablet, and Catholic Church commentator Catherine Pepinster told the Telegraph that seating arrangements could create diplomatic embarrassment.
“One of the interesting aspects of such a ritual is that the Holy See has diplomatic relations with countries like Russia and Iran, which may mean that world leaders who usually don’t meet will meet each other in Rome at night during funerals or actual rituals,” she explained.
