By Darlene Superville, Associated Press
Rome (AP) – President Donald Trump will be part of more than 50 heads of state and other dignitaries who attend the funeral on Saturday for Pope Francis, where he will personally pay tribute to the Roman Catholic leader who did not agree with him on various questions.
Trump told journalists that he went to the funeral “out of respect” for the pontiff, who died on Monday after undergoing a stroke at the age of 88.
President and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Rome on Friday evening for the Saint-Pierre basilica in the city of the Vatican on Saturday morning. Francis will be buried during a private burial at the St. Mary Major basilica outside the Vatican walls.
Francis did not agree with Trump’s approach on issues such as immigration, treatment of migrants and climate change. The Argentinian pontiff and the American president clashed at the start of their immigration relationship. In 2016, Francis, referring to the candidate then Trump and her campaign slogan of “build the wall”, called anyone built a wall to prevent “not Christian” migrants. Trump said the comment was “shameful”.
But after the death of Francis, the republican president congratulated him as a “good man” who “worked hard” and “loved the world”. Trump also ordered that the American flags will be transported by plane to half of the staff in honor of Francis.
Trump had declared a few times before leaving Washington that he would have “a lot” of meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the funeral. But he seemed to move away from this when he flew to Rome.
“Frankly, it’s a bit disrespectful to have meetings when you are at the funeral of a pope,” the president told the journalists accompanying him on the Air Force One. Nevertheless, Trump said, “I’m going to talk to people. I will see a lot of people.”
The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Hungary and Argentina are among those who should attend.
One person with whom Trump did not expect to interact is former president Joe Biden, who planned to attend the funeral with his wife, Jill. Trump said he was not aware that his democratic predecessor would be at the funeral. When asked if they would come together, Trump said: “It’s not high on my list. This is really not the case.”
The Pope’s funeral will not be one of those opportunities that bring together the current presidents and former Americans. Former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush do not participate, said their offices. A spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton did not respond to an investigation on his plans.
Trump did not develop when he was asked if he would only meet leaders by passing or in more in -depth interviews. He suggested that he could have meetings at Villa Taverna, the residence of the American ambassador, where he spent the night.
“It’s a bit difficult because we don’t have much time,” said Trump, noting his late arrival in Rome. He had to return to the United States immediately after the funeral.
“I think we are going to try to see a few people who are important in what we do,” said Trump, who tries to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and negotiate trade agreements with several countries.
He posted on Truth social shortly after his arrival in Rome that Ukraine and Russia should meet for “very high level talks” by finishing the bloody three -year war launched by the invasion of Russia. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Friday, and Trump said the two parties were “very close to an agreement”.
It was not clear if the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy would go to Rome for the funeral. Putin does not participate.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
