Zelensky appears to receive applause as leaders gather for Pope’s funeral
Sir Keir Starmer, the Prince of Wales and Donald Trump were also present for the funeral mass in St Peter’s Square.
Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to receive a round of applause as he attended the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.
The crowd of assembled world leaders could be heard clapping as the Ukrainian president left St Peter’s Basilica, where he had paid his respects in front of the pontiff’s coffin ahead of the funeral ceremony.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania were also among the leaders who filed past the Pope’s casket before the funeral.
He and Mr Zelensky met before the funeral and are expected to do so again afterwards, according to Ukrainian officials.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the pair “had a very productive discussion” when they met.
Sir Keir Starmer and the Prince of Wales – who is attending on behalf of the King – did the same before joining the congregation in St Peter’s Square, estimated by the Vatican at 200,000, for the open-air funeral mass.
It is the first time William has represented the monarch at an international funeral.
The Prince of Wales spoke briefly to Mr Trump and the first lady on his way into the service, Kensington Palace said.
William also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron before the mass.
Sir Keir was joined in the sunshine of St Peter’s Square by his wife Victoria, Lady Starmer, and the Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Mr Lammy, who is effectively the UK’s top diplomat, is expected to travel on to the Persian Gulf for talks in Oman and Qatar following the funeral.
Irish President Michael D Higgins was joined by Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris in paying respects to the Pope inside St Peter’s.
The funeral began shortly after world leaders had taken their seats in the square.
The seating plan was based on a complex order of precedence, with Argentina – the country of the Pope’s birth – and Italy at the front.
Other sovereigns, heads of state, and heads of government were then seated in alphabetical order of their countries’ names in the French language – used because French is considered the language of diplomacy.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney shared a photograph on social media from St Peter’s Square, and said it was a “privilege” to represent his nation there.
Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, also travelled to the Vatican for the funeral.
