Why so many Protestant nation-state dignitaries at a Catholic funeral?

Why veils mattered more than titles at the Pope’s funeral

The European royals are masters when it comes to dressing for formal ceremonies. But Melania Trump proved she could hold her own amongst them at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City’s St Peter’s Square on Saturday.

Yahoo LifeTamara Abraham

Nearly all of Central to Northern and Western Europe is Protestant, not Catholic.

It is true that Protestant teaching would not forbid such attendance, as long as one is not "excommunicated" or "trespassed" and even at that, Martin Luther burned the bull of his excommunication and made no change in his habits or appearances because of it.

Let's not make any assumptions of diplomacy or etiquette or submission to authority here. There are enough officials present that they can handle themselves presumably to get off the property without incident after the ceremony is concluded.

Otherwise the funeral seems to have been of extraordinary interest for esentially all "Western" world leaders to attend regardless of their religious affiliations, and even so in consideration of some very uncomfortable situations and circumstances.

The focus on dress codes with extreme emphasis on formality and prohibitions on "excessive" jewelry — it's not entirely clear what's considered "excessive" exactly, but clearly some of the most valuable pieces in the world are being worn by some of these women in attendance. Or how much alcohol is being drunk without that being considered "excessive" as well? Say the hosts are Italians and wine does not exist?

Wholly aside from any considerations of the sinfulness of the attendants at that funeral, how does that figure in to Kristi Noem's purse being snatched?

Second suspect arrested in theft of DHS chief Kristi Noem’s purse

Noem’s bag was stolen by a masked man last Sunday while she was having dinner with her family in Washington, D.C.

NBC NewsLaura Strickler