BREAKING: Melania saves Donald Trump from diplomatic faux-pas with four stern words

This is the moment Melania Trump's saved her husband from an awkward faux-pas during Pope Francis' funeral. The US President and the First Lady were front and centre during the service as they were given to prime positions among leaders, monarchs and dignitaries.

The VIPs were among the 250,000 mourners who had gathered in St Peter's Square to say their goodbyes and pay respects to the pontiff who had died on Easter Monday.

Melania, who is a practising Catholic, attended the service on her 55th birthday. At one point during the three-hour mass, the congregation were invited to 'offer each other a sign of peace' by shaking hands with one another.

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At this point, Trump - who was dressed in a navy blue suit - was seen watching events unfold but without participating. The cameras then caught Melania coming to his aid.

Lip reader Nicola Hickling told MailOnline that Melania instructed her husband to start shaking hands before Trump grudgingly offered a hand to the French president Emmanuel Macron.

'You should do it,' Melania whispered in Trump's ear. The First Lady then repeated herself until her husband took up her instruction.