Spontaneous applause broke out in St. Peter’s Square as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived for the funeral of Pope Francis, drawing warm acknowledgment from the thousands gathered.

The funeral, currently underway in Vatican City, has drawn a powerful assembly of dignitaries, with around 50 world leaders and 10 reigning monarchs in attendance. Zelenskyy arrived among a procession of international figures taking their seats in the square ahead of the ceremony.

Applause erupted when the crowd caught sight of the Ukrainian leader, with his image displayed on large screens set up around the square.


Among the other high-profile attendees is U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration continues to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war between Kyiv and Moscow.

According to Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov, President Zelenskyy and President Trump held a brief meeting in Rome prior to the funeral. “The meeting took place and is already over,” Nykyforov told reporters, offering no further details.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden, the first Catholic U.S. president since John F. Kennedy, is also present at the funeral, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden.

Ireland is being represented by President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and Tánaiste Simon Harris.

Several key European leaders are also in attendance, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is representing the United Kingdom, alongside Prince William, who is attending on behalf of his father, King Charles III, the head of the Church of England.