Perhaps the Pope's funeral will lead to some diplomatic breakthroughs

Historically, state funerals have been exploited to draw leaders of the world together to try and do some back stage deals. The Pope's funeral is attracting most of the leaders on this planet with obvoious exceptions, including Putin, Xi Zinping and Kim Jong Un. But both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky will be there on Saturday and perhaps they could get together and sort something out about the war in Ukraine. Trump will want to get the rare earth minerals deal completed. All the European leaders will be present and they should get Trump to one side and tell him it's high time he demonstrated his devotion to the alliance. That would be a great achievement. Funerals have a way of forging relationships in a way which can't always be achieved in more formal conference rooms.So, watch out for little gatherings here and there. If peace were to emerge out of these chats whether it be to do with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza or the Trump trade war, then Pope Francis in his death will have added to his legacy as a peacemaker. It's a small hope but something positive could emerge from Saturday's funeral.