The world has bid farewell to Pope Francis, who was laid to rest on Saturday as thousands gathered in Rome, including numerous world leaders.
Among them were Donald and Melania Trump—but a conspiracy theory online now questions whether it was really Melania who attended, or a body double.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, served for 12 years and passed away on April 21 at 88. He was no ordinary pope, known for advocating for immigrants and the poor, and for rejecting luxury. Instead of the grand papal apartment, he chose a modest two-room residence and refused a $32,000 monthly salary. He also rejected traditional white trousers, joking, “No thanks. I don’t want to look like an ice cream seller,” according to biographer Austen Ivereigh.
Francis remained close to the people until the end. Just a day before his death, he rode through a crowd of 50,000 in St. Peter’s Square without bulletproof protection, smiling and embracing well-wishers.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell confirmed his death: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.” In his will, Francis requested a simple burial at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, without decoration, marked only by the inscription: Franciscus.
His funeral on Saturday saw over 100 foreign delegations attend, with notable figures like Donald and Melania Trump, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, Argentina’s President Milei, and Prince William among those present. More than 200,000 mourners lined the streets as Francis’ casket was transferred to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica—making him the first pope buried outside the Vatican since 1903.
Donald and Melania Trump were seated with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, among others. Melania’s relationship with Pope Francis was previously noted as “awkward” during their 2017 meeting. Although Melania claimed fluency in Italian, she needed a translator when the pope asked if she fed Donald a Slovenian cake, potica. After some confusion, Melania replied: “Potica, yes.”
Author Mary Jordan later revealed in The Art of Her Deal that despite reports, Melania mostly spoke English during the meeting, responding with “Thank you. Nice to meet you,” and later adding, “Oh, I would love it. Thank you. Grazie,” when gifted a rosary.
At the funeral, Melania wore an all-black Dolce & Gabbana outfit, complete with a black mantilla and gloves, reflecting her longstanding relationship with the brand.
However, conspiracy theories quickly emerged. After footage of Donald and Melania boarding a helicopter circulated online, some claimed it wasn’t actually Melania. “Fake Melania,” one user wrote, noting she wore flat shoes—something the real Melania rarely does. Others commented on her coat and posture, speculating a body double stood in for her.
This isn’t the first time such theories surfaced. On Election Day 2020, similar rumors spread when Melania wore sunglasses indoors. Critics pointed to missing rings, different facial features, and even suggested the woman seen looked “20 years younger.”
Whether or not there’s any truth to the theories, one thing remains clear: Pope Francis’ funeral drew global attention—and not just for the historic significance of the man being honored.