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Given the fragility of today’s global landscape and the US administration’s wariness towards multilateral diplomacy, any forum bringing together world leaders offers a rare chance to make progress on key issues.
The Pope’s funeral in Rome this coming Saturday will therefore provide many such moments.
Among the expected attendees are top European figures, including Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
But as the first US president to attend a papal funeral since George W. Bush paid his respects to Pope John Paul II in 2005, all eyes will be on Donald Trump.
The briefest conversation with him on the sidelines of this event could shift long-standing geopolitical dynamics.
Allies and rivals alike will be looking for moments to connect behind the scenes of the solemn occasion.
After all, Pope Francis was a man of peace, from making daily calls to a Christian parish in Gaza to consistently advocating for ceasefires in Ukraine.
Could his final farewell offer the world one last miracle: a step toward de-escalation?
Tariffs – 90-second pitch during 90-day truce?
The clock is ticking on a temporary 90-day truce called by Trump on so-called “reciprocal” 20% tariffs imposed on EU goods – there’s been little diplomatic progress to show so far.
EU negotiators, led by trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, have been in talks with their US counterparts, but all their proposals, including von der Leyen’s zero-for-zero tariff one, appear to have been spurned in Washington so far.
Saturday’s funeral provides a rare chance for von der Leyen to make a direct appeal to Trump during the 90-day truce.
“I do not have any update to give on possible bilateral meetings. The visit on Saturday is for a different reason […] I cannot exclude at this time other possible meetings,” said a Commission spokesperson.
Will von der Leyen be able to deliver Trump a compelling “elevator pitch” – a 90-second case for the EU’s proposal – to persuade him to wind down the tariffs, perhaps with a little help from the spirit of the Pope?
Ukraine – pitch for peace
Technical discussions on Ukraine are ongoing, but high-level talks scheduled in London today appear to be faltering, with many choosing not to attend.
It’s clear that progress requires more than diplomats: it needs intervention from leaders themselves (if not some celestial help).
Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted not to attend the funeral, despite having called Pope Francis a “defender of humanism” in his tribute.
By contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the funeral accompanied by his wife Olena, likely hoping to secure a conversation with Trump.
Zelenskyy has expressed a desire to meet Trump in the Vatican. Could the memory of Pope Francis help bridge their divide?
Mercosur – a show of unity
Leaders of the South American trade bloc Mercosur, including Argentine President Javier Milei and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have confirmed their attendance.
They are expected to reconnect with von der Leyen, following the finalisation of the EU-Mercosur talks, an event that previously triggered sharp criticism from France’s Emmanuel Macron.
Macron’s stance on this deal appears to have softened recently, however, and with Trump also in Rome, a show of unity between the EU and South America could send a clear message to the US, especially regarding the threat of renewed tariffs.
Even if no formal meeting occurs, a symbolic gesture – perhaps a handshake between von der Leyen and Macron, alongside Lula and Milei – could signal a shift toward a new global trade alignment.
Conclave – not the movie
A different kind of geopolitical jockeying is already underway: the race to elect the next Pope. While out of the direct control of world leaders, the choice will have far-reaching implications.
Beyond ideology – whether he’ll be a conservative or a progressive papacy – the next pontiff’s origin could reshape the Church’s global influence.
A Pope from the Asia-Pacific region or Africa, for instance, would send a powerful message in areas where the geopolitical weight of the Church could increase dramatically.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who will deliver the funeral Mass, is one of the leading contenders.
He may use this moment to make a strong impression on his peers – or, depending on your beliefs on who will take the decision in the Sistine Chapel, on God.
It’s worth noting indeed that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger also presided over the funeral of John Paul II, only to become Pope Benedict XVI weeks later.
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