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World leaders caught on phone at Pope Francis' funeral who made the naughty list

Several world leaders were spotted whipping out their phones to take photos of the Pope Francis' coffin at his funeral on Saturday, with social media users left stunned

[World leaders]

Some world leaders couldn't resist taking a cheeky snap(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

World leaders have been branded as "morbid" after a few were caught on camera whipping out their mobiles to take snaps of Pope Francis' coffin during his funeral.

The beloved Pope was honoured at Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore basilica this Saturday, with a majestic send-off on the steps of Basilica San Pietro. The Vatican reckons about 250,000 folks and a hefty bunch of world bigwigs turned up for the service.

With all eyes on the global broadcast, it didn't take long for eagle-eyed viewers to spot a cheeky few trying to bag a photo of the Pope's casket and the funeral march.

[World leaders]

Who in their right mind would take a photo at a funeral?(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Snaps taken towards the tail-end of the ceremony show most dignitaries standing in quiet tribute as the Pope's coffin was carried back into the basilica. But you could spot a handful of them, arms outstretched, phones in hand, snapping away as the procession strutted through the grand entrance.

Nearly 10 world leaders were caught in the act, with VIPs like Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter and Uganda's Deputy Speaker Tomas Tayebwa among them. Tayebwa even chucked a tweet online showing the coffin being hauled down the basilica's steps, plus a cheeky selfie with Joe Biden, reports the Mirror.

He expressed his sentiments online, stating: "I'm glad I had the chance to bid farewell to my spiritual leader who meant a lot to me personally. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace."

Meanwhile, other attendees seated at a distance were seen snapping photos and recording videos of the Pope's procession, their identities partially concealed behind sunglasses. The sight of these dignitaries capturing the moment on camera left social media users stunned, with some arguing that electronic devices should have been prohibited by the Vatican.

One viewer voiced their disapproval bluntly: "Who the hell takes photos of a funeral, never mind world leaders, outrageous. Electronic devices should have been banned."

[World leaders]

Credit where credit is due... at least Donald Trump kept his phone in his pocket(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Another went even further in their condemnation, labelling the act of photographing the deceased as "morbid".

They said: "Taking pictures of the dead is morbid."

These photo-snapping leaders weren't the only ones catching flak for disrespect; Donald Trump also faced criticism for donning a blue suit that didn't quite match the expected dress code.

The former US President was noticeably different in the front row among other dignitaries, wearing a blue suit that was visibly lighter than those worn by others nearby, including his wife, Melania.

Guests were instructed to don dark attire, not necessarily black suits, yet Mr Trump was noticeably distinct in the assembly, especially since he was already positioned at the forefront. Observant members of the public didn't miss a beat, with one remarking on social media: "Why isn't Trump wearing a black suit? Such disrespect."

Another said: "Respect? He's not even wearing a black suit. At least Melania is attending the funeral in all black including a modest black veil. Wishing a real bad sunburn on his bald combover."

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