There are several issues at work here.
Mandela was a famous world leader, so it’s not surprising his funeral would be a big deal. Not at all surprising Obama and former presidents would attend.
As for Cruz, I just think he laid it on a Little thick on Mandela then making a big show by walking out on Raul Castro. It was good theater all right.
Cruz made some conventional remarks about a world-celebrated figure. Yes, Mandela was who he was, but then even a communist can do things well. Tito kept Yugoslavia together.