Pope's coffin sealed as world leaders gather ahead of funeral (2025)

Volodymyr Zelensky has followed up on his earlier conversations with Donald Trump and other European world leaders as they attended the Pope’s funeral with a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Ukrainian president walked and talked with the British prime minister after the conclusion of the ceremony, where he talked to reporters about the sensitivity of questions surrounding peace talks involving the US and Russia.

Speaking to a Ukrainian journalist, Zelensky said that he had discussed recent meetings with European and Ukrainian officials in Paris and London, saying: “We want to continue such meetings to bring peace to Ukraine."

John Swinney has said the funeral of Pope Francis was “very moving” and “uplifting” after attending the ceremony in the Vatican.

The First Minister also spoke of his own experience of Christianity, saying it “makes me who I am”.

He was one of many Scots who travelled to Rome for the funeral, following the death of the Catholic Church’s leader on Easter Monday.

Mr Swinney spoke to the PA news agency from St Peter’s Square just after the funeral.

He said: “It’s been a very moving ceremony, a very dignified ceremony, paying tribute to a life of service in arguing for the protection of the poor and to support those who seek justice.

“But also an uplifting service about the hope for the world that Pope Francis conveyed.”

The coffin of Pope Francis has been seen by the public for the last time as it moves into the church of Santa Maria Maggiore to be buried.

The rest of the funeral ceremony will take place in private as the Pope is laid to rest in a simple tomb with only the word “Franciscus” inscribed on it, being the Latin for the Pope’s chosen name.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he had a “good meeting” with President Trump ahead of the Pope’s funeral ceremony today, saying that the conversation has the “potential to become historic”.

The Ukrainian president made the statement on X after his spoke with his American counterpart.

He said: "Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered.

"Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.

"Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results."

Donald Trump has left Rome in Air Force One, pictured here with his wife Melania waving goodbye at the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport.

The US president reportedly had conversations with Ukrainian prime minister Volodymyr Zelensky as they attended the Pope’s funeral early today.

Pope Francis will be the first Pope for 100 years not to be buried at the Vatican, instead choosing to lie in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

His coffin will remain in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, in a church which holds a personal significance to the late pope.

Francis held a special reverence for the Virgin Mary, and the Santa Maria Maggiore was the first church to be built dedicated to this religious figure.

This will make today the first time since Leo XIII’s funeral in 1903 that a Pope has been buried outside of the Vatican.

Pope Francis will be the 8th Pope to be laid to rest in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and one of around 90 not to be buried in the Vatican.

The Pope’s coffin is now being transported in an armoured ‘popemobile’ hearse to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where the coffin will lie.

The vehicle is a modified version of the bulletproof car used by the Pope to greet crowds in safety while remaining visible.

Thousands have gathered in the streets to watch and pay their respects to the late Pope as it drives through the streets of Rome.

Bells can be heard ringing in the distance as mourners clap and cheers the passing of the precession.

Italy's interior ministry has told Sky News that a police officer every ten meters has been deployed to line the streets at the hearse drives by.

Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron are pictured in conversation with Donald Trump before attending the funeral ceremony for Pope Francis.

Many politicians and dignitaries appear to have been taking advantage of the rare diplomatic density of the Pope’s funeral, with dozens of presidents and prime ministers crammed into St Peter’s Square together.

Trump reportedly had meetings with state leaders including prime minister Zelensky ahead of the service this morning. and is planning to follow up with another meeting later today.

The requiem mass has concluded in the Vatican with the Pope’s coffin being carried back into St Peter’s Basilica.

Pallbearers lifted the coffin away amid a muted applause from the over 250,000 strong crowd of mourners.