The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the funeral of Pope Francis. Photo: IPA, Independent Photo Agency SRL / Alamy / Profimedia
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the US President Donald Trump, had a short discussion in Rome on Saturday in Pope Francis's funeral, and agreed to organize an official meeting, a European Commission spokesman announced, Euronews reports.
The images surprise Trump, along with his wife, Melania, and other leaders, shaking the hand of Ursula von der Leyen and carrying a brief cordial discussion.
It is the first direct interaction between Trump and Von Der Leyen since Trump's return to the White House in January. The officials of the European Commission have been trying for months to set a bilateral meeting between the two, but so far the discussions have not materialized.
According to the Commission, the official discussion will not take place in Rome, and the details will be established later. The representatives of the Commission refused to specify whether von der Leyen at the formal guest on Trump in Brussels.
Before the visit to Italy, the Commission announced that any opportunity to get a direct discussion with Trump would be used.
Pope Francis's funerals brought to Rome dozens of world leaders, a context that allowed several informal interactions.
During Saturday, Trump also had a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, the first after the tense replicas exchange at the Oval Office at the end of February.
Video the last road of Pope Francis. The coffin with his body, transported with the Papamobil to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the applause of the people
Video the funeral of Pope Francis. Over 400,000 people have said goodbye to the leader of the Catholic Church. “Francis was a pope among people.”
