Mattarella and Milei to Lead Delegations at Pope Francis’s Funeral

Vatican City: Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Argentine President Javier Milei will take precedence at Pope Francis’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square.

According to Ansa News Agency, following established Vatican protocols, the front two spots will be reserved for the leaders of Italy and Argentina, reflecting the Pope’s Italian primacy and Argentine heritage.

The funeral, set for Saturday, will be attended by over 170 international delegations, with 130 already confirmed. Pope Francis had previously removed many traditional frills associated with papal funerals, opting for a more subdued ceremony. The Vatican will adhere to protocol manuals similar to those used during Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 to manage seating arrangements.

As per protocol, the first rows will accommodate Italian officials, including the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, the President of the Council of Ministers, and the President of the Constitutional Court. Following Italy, seats will be set aside for the Argentine delegation, led by President Milei.

In addition, Catholic reigning sovereigns like Felipe of Spain and the Grand Master of the Order of Malta will be followed by non-Catholic sovereigns from Norway, Sweden, Holland, and Belgium. When delegations are large, primary representatives occupy front seats, while others are seated in subsequent rows.

For the royal sector, Prince William of Great Britain will likely be seated in the third row, akin to Prince Charles’s placement at John Paul II’s funeral. Delegations of heads of state will follow the French alphabetical order, a diplomatic custom. While the list is not finalized, anticipated attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, and possibly former President Joe Biden, near French President Emmanuel Macron.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected among the early seating, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be further back.

The ecclesiastical section will see cardinals and Eastern Church patriarchs positioned on the parvis in front of the basilica. This arrangement promises a visually impactful scene amid bells and requiem liturgies. Notably, Konrad Krajewski, who led John Paul II’s funeral procession, will now be among the cardinals, reflecting his close collaboration with Pope Francis in aiding the poor.