The funeral for Pope Francis was held on Saturday, April 26, drawing over 250,000 attendees to the streets surrounding St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
The Pope passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, with the cause of death cited as a stroke followed by heart failure. His declining health had been a concern prior to his passing.
Following his death, preparations for his funeral ramped up while world leaders made their way to Rome to pay homage to the revered leader.
During the service, emotions ran high, particularly for a nun who broke with tradition to pay her respects.
Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, a French-Argentine nun, was seen standing in a restricted section near the Pope’s coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica, a spot usually reserved for high-ranking clergy.
She was granted this exception due to her longstanding friendship with Pope Francis.
A touching video shows Sister Jeanningros dabbing tears with a tissue as she stood near the coffin, capturing the hearts of those who viewed it on social media.
Some social media users expressed their feelings with comments such as: “So she should. She was his friend,” and “Our Pope and so happy that Sister Genevieve was allowed to mourn for all of us.” Another added: “Just wanna give her a hug.”
It has been disclosed that Pope Francis will be interred with a meaningful document, along with several other traditional items.
Following the traditions of the Roman Church, the first Latin American Pope will be laid to rest with a document recounting his life, known as a ‘Rogito’.
This document, written in Ecclesiastical Latin, the Catholic Church’s official language, is also referred to as a ‘Deed’ in English and is enclosed within a metal cylinder before being placed in the coffin.
According to Vatican News, the Rogito is not the only item placed in the Pope’s coffin. As with his predecessors, Pope Francis will be buried with his pallium—a white, woolen garment worn during ecclesiastical ceremonies—along with coins and medals minted during his time as Pope.
The Holy See Press Office shared the full text of the Rogito in Latin prior to the Requiem Mass held for Francis on April 26.
The document, whose English translation was provided by Vatican News, describes the 266th Pope as a ‘simple and much-loved shepherd’.