By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Related Press
ROME (AP) — President Donald Trump will probably be amongst greater than 50 heads of state and different dignitaries attending Saturday’s funeral for Pope Francis, the place he’ll personally pay his respects to the Roman Catholic chief who pointedly disagreed with him on a wide range of points.
Trump advised reporters he was going to the funeral “out of respect” for the pontiff, who died Monday after struggling a stroke on the age of 88.
The president and first girl Melania Trump arrived in Rome late Friday for the service at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican Metropolis on Saturday morning. Francis will probably be laid to relaxation throughout a non-public burial at St. Mary Main Basilica exterior the Vatican’s partitions.
Francis sharply disagreed with Trump’s strategy on points together with immigration, the remedy of migrants and local weather change. The Argentine pontiff and the American president sparred early of their relationship over immigration. In 2016, Francis, alluding to then-candidate Trump and his marketing campaign slogan of “Build the wall,” referred to as anybody who builds a wall to maintain out migrants “ not Christian.” Trump mentioned the remark was “disgraceful.”
However after Francis’ dying, the Republican president praised him as a “good man” who “worked hard” and “loved the world.” Trump additionally directed that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff in Francis’ honor.
Trump had mentioned on a few events earlier than leaving Washington that he would have “a lot” of conferences with counterparts on the sidelines of the funeral. However he appeared to again away from that as he flew to Rome.
“Frankly, it’s a little disrespectful to have meetings when you’re at the funeral of a pope,” the president advised reporters accompanying him aboard Air Pressure One. Nonetheless, Trump mentioned: “I’ll be talking to people. I’ll be seeing a lot of people.”
The leaders of France, the UK, Spain, Hungary and Argentina are amongst these anticipated to attend.
One individual Trump didn’t count on to work together with is former President Joe Biden, who deliberate to attend the funeral along with his spouse, Jill. Trump mentioned he wasn’t conscious his Democratic predecessor can be on the funeral. Requested in the event that they’d meet, Trump mentioned: “It’s not high on my list. It’s really not.”
The pope’s funeral is not going to be a type of events that deliver collectively the present and former U.S. presidents. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush are usually not attending, their places of work mentioned. A spokesperson for former President Invoice Clinton didn’t reply to an inquiry about his plans.
Trump didn’t elaborate when requested if he’d simply be assembly leaders in passing or holding extra in-depth talks. He instructed he might need conferences at Villa Taverna, the U.S. ambassador’s residence, the place he spent the evening.
“It’s a little tough because we don’t have much time,” Trump mentioned, noting his late arrival in Rome. He was scheduled to go again to the US instantly after the funeral.
“I think that we’re going to try and see a couple of people that are important in what we’re doing,” mentioned Trump, who’s attempting to dealer a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and negotiate commerce agreements with a number of international locations.
He posted on Reality Social shortly after arriving in Rome that Ukraine and Russia ought to meet for “very high level talks” on ending the bloody three-year struggle sparked by Russia’s invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Friday, and Trump mentioned each side have been “very close to a deal.”
It was unclear if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would make it to Rome for the funeral. Putin will not be attending.
