Between mourning and diplomacy
The day of Pope Francis’ funeral is, first and foremost, a moment of collective mourning. However, it will also be remembered for its symbolic and political significance: an event that, while originating in the spiritual realm, ultimately reflects the current state of the world: who is present, who is absent, and who is talking to whom. In a moment when official diplomacy struggles to find solutions, Rome – for a few hours – transforms into a temporary laboratory of global politics. Without negotiations, without signatures, without proclamations. But the simultaneous presence of leaders from all over the world creates a unique context, in which grief intertwines with diplomacy. An occasion that can be considered one of the most delicate and potentially influential geopolitical events of the year.
There is no official agenda. There will be no joint statements or programmatic declarations. But this does not mean that nothing will happen. On the contrary, it is precisely the informal circumstances that make these moments significant. In the salons of embassies, in the corridors of Vatican palaces, and in the lobbies of luxury hotels hosting delegations, it is reasonable to expect numerous bilateral meetings – brief, private, but politically weighty.
One of the most followed scenarios concerns a possible meeting, even fleeting, between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Relations between the United States and the European Union have entered a new phase of tension, particularly on the trade front due to new tariffs announced by Trump (although temporarily suspended). Added to these issues are already heated topics such as common defense, artificial intelligence, and – inevitably – Ukraine. In this context, even a simple exchange of words between the two leaders could offer insights into possible openings, or new fractures, in transatlantic relations.
Equally relevant is the possibility of indirect contacts between China and the United States. Both delegations are present, and although no official meetings are scheduled, state funerals have historically often served as a “parallel channel” for informal exchanges, sometimes more effective than those in multilateral contexts. A handshake, a greeting exchanged in front of cameras, can be as significant as a summit.
The presence of Zelensky also opens up possibilities for strategic meetings. In particular, with European leaders and Latin American leaders, including Lula da Silva, who has long been engaged in a more neutral narrative of the conflict. A dialogue between them could be an attempt at mediation or at least mutual clarification.
For the Italian Prime Minister, this occasion represents a moment of high visibility but also of delicacy. Giorgia Meloni will have a central role: not only as the leader of the host country but also as a privileged interlocutor for many delegations, especially those from Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa.
The funeral becomes, for Meloni, an important test in at least three directions: consolidating her international positioning as a reliable and central figure in the European landscape; strengthening the image of an Italy capable of managing major global events with security and dignity; and, more implicitly, reaffirming the centrality of the Vatican – and therefore of Rome – as a global meeting point that only Italy can offer.
The true value for Meloni, however, also lies in symbolism. In a continuously transforming Europe, being the meeting point for the entire world is an opportunity to show that Italy can still have a leading role as a political actor.
