Here’s where Trump, Zelensky and other dignitaries may sit at Pope Francis’ funeral

President Trump and first woman Melania will apt person a third-row spot to Pope Francis’ funeral connected Saturday, sandwiched betwixt African dignitaries — and acold distant from Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky.

World leaders are expected to beryllium successful alphabetical bid according to nan sanction of their state successful French, successful statement pinch Vatican protocol that besides dictated Pope John Paul II’s ceremonial successful 2005. That puts nan delegation from nan US — which translates to États-Unis — aft Ethiopia and earlier Eswatini, formerly known arsenic Swaziland.

Front statement to nan papal service, which originates Saturday astatine 10 a.m. successful St. Peter’s Square, will beryllium powerful archbishops, bishops and cardinals.

Also successful nan beforehand will beryllium Argentinian President Javier Milei, nan leader of Francis’ location country, according to reports. Italy will get nan second-best placement because nan pope is nan bishop of Rome.

Behind them will beryllium royals including nan Prince of Wales, nan King and Queen of Sweden and Crown Prince and Princess of Norway. No favoritism will beryllium made betwixt Catholic and non-Catholic royalty for nan seating order, nan Vatican said.

Then will travel nan different heads of state, according to reports. At slightest 130 overseas delegations, including 50 leaders and 10 reigning monarchs, scheme to be nan funeral, according to nan Vatican.

Trump, who will beryllium seated on pinch nan US group, will apt beryllium spared from sitting uncomfortably adjacent to Zelensky successful what would beryllium nan pair’s first face-to-face gathering since their public conflict successful nan Oval Office successful February.

The US delegation, led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), will see erstwhile Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Reps. Laura Gillen (D-NY) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).

Former President Joe Biden is attending but will not beryllium portion of nan charismatic US delegation and should beryllium sitting further backmost alongside different VIPs, according to reports.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer — whose state translates to Royaume-Unimight successful French — whitethorn not beryllium arsenic fortunate successful escaping nan tensions posed by nan warfare betwixt Russia and Ukraine, perchance being placed straight adjacent to Russia.

Starmer has stood by Zelensky and this week challenged a bid connection from nan US that would legally assistance Russia possession of Crimea, which it occupied from Ukraine successful 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not beryllium attending nan funeral, nan Kremlin announced connected Tuesday.

Along pinch nan VIPs, up to 200,000 mourners are expected to be nan services. Tens of thousands person already paid their respects arsenic nan precocious Pontiff’s assemblage was on position astatine St. Peter’s Basilica this week.

The 88-year-old pope died of a changeable connected Easter Monday.

Italian constabulary and subject are reportedly building a analyzable “ring of steel” astir Vatican City including thousands of officers including soldiers equipped pinch guns to sprout down drones, rooftop snipers and combatant jets from nan Italian Air Force.

With Post wires