With dignitaries from all over the world in attendance, the Vatican had a selected protocol to find out the place everybody would sit.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and first woman Melania Trump have been in entrance row seats amongst the dignitaries on the funeral of Pope Francis.
The placement is notable as a result of there had been a number of experiences main as much as Saturday’s ceremony that indicated the U.S. president could also be seated a number of rows again due to Vatican protocols.
The protocol has visiting dignitaries seated of their group in alphabetical order primarily based on their nation’s identify in French.
The heads of state of Italy and the pope’s native Argentina have been first, adopted by nations in alphabetical order. That meant Trump, the president of the US (les États-Unis in French), was seated between the leaders of Finland and Estonia, and simply down from French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was greeted with a burst of applause from the viewers when he arrived, was additionally seated within the entrance row however a number of seats away from Trump. The 2 met briefly earlier than the service, each the White Home and Zelenskyy’s workplace confirmed.
Trump, in the meantime, additionally drew the general public’s consideration for carrying a darkish blue swimsuit and a lighter blue tie in a sea largely of mournful black apparel.
Former President Joe Biden, a practising Roman Catholic who attended together with his spouse, Jill Biden, carrying his signature aviator sun shades was seated a number of rows behind Trump.
Is Melania Trump catholic?
Melania Trump in 2017 grew to become the primary Catholic first woman within the White Home since Jacqueline Kennedy, CNN and a number of different retailers reported on the time.
After assembly Pope Francis in Could 2017, Melania mentioned it was a go to she would “always remember.”
Saturday additionally occurred to coincide with Melania’s fifty fifth birthday and a number of sources informed PEOPLE she was “honored” to be attending the pontiff’s funeral, whatever the timing.
