First Lady Melania Trump steps out on her 55th birthday for Pope Francis' funeral

The president previously shared how they were going to celebrate

APRIL 26, 2025 7:47 AM EDTAPR 26, 2025, 7:47 AM EDT

First Lady Melania Trump turned 55 the same day as Pope Francis' funeral. The first lady and her husband President Donald Trump attended the service, held in St. Peter's Square, on Saturday, April 26.

US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania are seen arriving at the Pope's Funeral at the Vatican in Rome, Italy on 26 April, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Melania, who is said to be the first Catholic first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy, was dressed in black for the somber occasion, wearing a double-breasted coat and lace veil, along with a cross necklace. The first couple was seated in the same row as Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia and Denmark's Queen Mary. The day before the funeral, multiple sources told PEOPLE that Melania was "honored" to be attending the pope's funeral and that she "admired" the late pontiff.

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - APRILÂ 26: (L-R) US President Donald Trump, US First Lady Melania Trump, Estonian President Alar Karis, King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia of Spain Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa attend the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peterâs Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis died on April 21st at the age of 88. Born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to become Pope when elected in 2013. Taking the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi, he promoted a more humble version of the papacy than many of his predecessors. He will be buried outside of the Vatican in a simple wooden coffin at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Another source shared with the magazine that the first lady had "no issue" in attending the funeral on her birthday, adding, "She will make the most of her birthday in the time frame after the event."

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On the flight over to Rome on Friday, the president told reporters on Air Force One that his wife has "a working birthday" this year. Asked if he planned on taking the first lady to dinner, President Trump said, "I'll take her for dinner on the Boeing. I'll take her for dinner on Air Force One."

The first couple left the White House on Friday morning to travel to Rome for the funeral, which was also attended by former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Prince of Wales and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.

VATICAN CITY, SPAIN - APRIL 26: France's first lady Brigitte Macron (2l), France's President Emmanuel Macron (3l), US President Donald Trump (2r) and US first lady Melania Trump (r) during the Pope's funeral in St. Peter's Square, April 26, 2025, in Vatican City. Pope Francis I, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, has been watched over by some 250,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days and today the funeral mass is celebrated. Afterwards, the coffin will be carried to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the Pontiff will be buried. (Photo By Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images)

During President Trump's first term, he and Melania met with the late pope. Following the visit in 2017, the first lady wrote on X, "Today's visit with His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex is one I'll never forget. I was humbled by the honor. Blessings to all."

VATICAN CITY, SPAIN - APRIL 26: US President Donald Trump (c) during the Pope's funeral in St. Peter's Square, April 26, 2025, in Vatican City. Pope Francis I, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, has been watched over by some 250,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days and today the funeral mass is celebrated. Afterwards, the coffin will be carried to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the Pontiff will be buried. (Photo By Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Pope Francis died of a stroke, coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse on April 21.The first lady mourned the death of the pope, writing on X (formerly Twitter), "On this Easter Monday, we remember His Holiness, Pope Francis. I join millions of people around the world in mourning his loss."

"I will always cherish my trip to the Holy See in 2017," she added. "May he rest in peace."