Meloni promotes Western summit with Trump in Rome around the pope’s Funeral, without Sánchez U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
The death of Pope Francis has opened the door to an informal summit of Western leaders in Rome, coinciding with the pontiff’s funeral. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is leading the efforts to bring together key figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the Italian capital.
Trump, who has already confirmed his attendance alongside First Lady Melania Trump, wrote on his social network Truth Social: “Melania and I will attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. We look forward to being there!” This will mark his first official visit to Europe since taking office, underscoring the geopolitical relevance of the event.
From Brussels, the European Commission has not ruled out potential political meetings taking place on the sidelines. According to spokesperson Arianna Podestà, Von der Leyen’s visit is “linked to the funeral,” but “other meetings cannot be ruled out,” as reported by Corriere della Sera.
As President of the European Council, António Costa has the authority to convene a summit of leaders and, according to the Financial Times, he has welcomed Meloni’s proposal. Von der Leyen, for her part, supports holding a meeting once technical discussions on tariffs are concluded, though she also views an initial gathering favorably.
Also attending in Rome will be French President Emmanuel Macron, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Spain will send the King and Queen along with three ministers, but Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not attend—not even for an event of this international magnitude. Representing Spain instead will be Félix Bolaños, María Jesús Montero, Yolanda Díaz, and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijoo.
The contrast is striking: while leaders from around the world seize the opportunity to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, Spain’s Prime Minister is absent without any official explanation.
Meloni, who enjoys an excellent relationship with Trump—whom she considers a key interlocutor—is acting as a political bridge between Europe and Washington. During Meloni’s recent visit to the White House, Trump did not rule out “a 100 percent trade agreement” with Italy, calling the prime minister “a great person.”
In parallel, the Pope’s funeral will also bring together leaders from other continents. Attendees will include Presidents Javier Milei (Argentina), Lula da Silva (Brazil), and Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine). However, neither Vladimir Putin nor Benjamin Netanyahu will be present, as both are subject to international arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
From the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend, and Prince William, heir to the throne, will represent King Charles III. Should Meloni’s initiative succeed, the gathering could serve as a prelude to a more formal summit in June, when Trump is scheduled to visit The Hague for the annual NATO meeting.
