Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, funeral services began today in Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square, drawing hundreds of thousands of mourners. Among the attendees were prominent global figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince William.
U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also traveled from Washington, D.C., ahead of their scheduled departure on Friday to attend the funeral. During the proceedings, Trump reportedly made a notable “seven-word comment” to Melania while in Vatican City, prompting her to encourage him to be more courteous. Attendees of the two-hour service were invited to participate in a traditional “sign of peace,” which involves shaking hands with those nearby.
Lip reading specialist Nicola Hickling of Lip Reader Limited, speaking to the *Express* on behalf of Oddspedia, observed that Melania said to her husband, “You should go do it,” repeating the suggestion before Trump reportedly replied, “Oh, alright.” He then proceeded to shake hands with President Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Trump’s initial hesitation to take part in the gesture is reportedly tied to ongoing global trade tensions, with the U.S. imposing tariffs on several countries. In fact, Trump referenced these trade disputes while en route to the funeral, which some found inappropriate given the solemnity of the occasion. He also faced criticism online for wearing a blue suit instead of the customary black, seen as a more respectful choice for mourning.
Before leaving Washington, Trump reflected on the pope’s legacy, saying, “\[He] loved the globe, and he was just a good man. I thought he was a terrific type of man.” He also mentioned his intention to hold discussions with various international leaders during the event, telling MSNBC, “It will be extremely intriguing. We’re going to meet with many of the foreign leaders who want to meet.”
He added, “Trade talks are going quite nicely. I believe Russia and Ukraine are making progress, but at a shaky pace. And I think Iran is doing extremely well. Let’s see what happens. We’re working on a lot of stuff.”