List of royals who attended Pope Francis' funeral

The Vatican witnessed an emotional chapter today as dignitaries, mourners, and the royals who attended Pope Francis’ funeral came together to pay their final respects. A sea of 250,000 gathered, with 50,000 inside St Peter’s Square alone, in honor of a pope who “touched minds and hearts,” according to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re during the service. As global leaders arrived, the presence of the royals who attended Pope Francis’ funeral added a special sense of tradition to the solemn proceedings.

The funeral mass, held at St Peter’s Basilica, marked the last public moment for Pope Francis, whose coffin was later moved to a church in Rome where he will be laid to rest.

Royals Pay Homage: A Tribute Across Faiths

The Vatican’s age-old protocol gave front pews to Catholic royals, emphasizing the deep ties between monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church. Among the royals who attended Pope Francis’ funeral, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and Prince Alois with Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein were given seats of honor.

Behind them, representing non-Catholic traditions, sat Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Queen Mary of Denmark alongside King Frederik. Prince William stood prominently, representing King Charles III and the Church of England.

World Leaders Unite: A Historic Encounter

Elsewhere in the basilica, a historic handshake unfolded. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, political figures often seen at odds, met briefly before the funeral ceremony. Zelensky later described the interaction as potentially “historic, if we achieve joint results.” A striking photograph captured Trump and Zelensky in conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, symbolizing the unexpected bridges built under the Vatican’s timeless dome.

Global Royal Representation

Beyond Europe’s royal houses, monarchs from different corners of the world also paid tribute. King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and King Letsie III of Lesotho were among those seated close to the dignitary block, reflecting the international admiration Pope Francis commanded.

The gathering, though somber, stood as a powerful reminder of Francis’ enduring mission: to “build bridges, not walls” across nations, faiths, and cultures.