An estimated 250,000 people packed into St. Peter’s Square and down the sidewalks of the Villa della Conciliazione to bid farewell to their beloved Pope Francis. Those in attendance came from countries across the world. Some came specifically for the funeral, others had planned to be in Rome on pilgrimage, and for still others, Francis was simply the bishop of their home diocese.
“Pope Francis is the pope of the people,” Rosa de los Ríos told America in Spanish before the funeral Mass. “He is very close to the people; he always was. That’s why he was so loved. People felt he was very close to them. And that includes people who were not that religious.”
Her husband, Eduardo Rueda, added that Francis wanted to unite people from different religions and reached out to those who, for some time, have not felt welcomed by the church, including divorced Catholics and L.G.B.T.Q. people.
“He looked for ways to bring them closer to the church,” Mr. Rueda said.
Ms. de los Ríos and Mr. Rueda traveled from Salta, in northern Argentina, with a group led by their parish priest. The pilgrims came to Rome to commemorate the 1,800-year anniversary of the birth of St. Lawrence—or “San Lorenzo” as he is known in Argentina.
Members of the group paid their respects to Francis while he was lying in state. Yet like so many others, they had hoped to attend the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis on Sunday, which has been postponed. Still, they said it was a privilege to bid farewell to the Argentinian pope who taught them so much.
“He wanted an open church, and that we go out to encounter people,” their niece, Elisea Gallo, said of Pope Francis. “It wasn’t about rules about being able to approach them. He wanted all of us to be merciful. God searches for us.”
Mr. Rueda added that Francis “showed us that God always forgives. God always wants you to approach him and not be afraid that you will not be forgiven.”
The message of mercy and of going out to meet others resonates with the sentiments of Peter Slobodnik, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist priest who led a youth group from the Czech Republic for the Jubilee of Teenagers.
“His approach and the way he spoke drew the attention of teenagers,” Father Slobodnik said. “They loved him.”
Deacon David Reiser led a group of pilgrims from his parish, Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte, N.C. Their plans also revolved around the canonization Mass, but Francis passed away the day they left for Rome. They reorganized their schedule and focused on the funeral.
Mr. Reiser and his wife, Maria, met Pope Francis in 2019 during a convening of airport chaplains in Rome, a gathering that takes place every five years. She has a photo of the encounter on her phone.
“I was able to hold his hands,” Ms. Reiser said of her encounter with Francis. “He spoke to me in Spanish, and as we spoke, he did not want me to let go of his hands.”
Ana Avila, one of the younger members of the group, called it an honor and a blessing to attend the funeral Mass. She said Pope Francis’s words reached people of all ages.
“Everyone around the whole world is mourning,” she said. “In the future, I’ll tell my kids, and I’ll go home and tell my parents that I was able to experience this. You’re actually living in this moment. I’m very grateful. There are a lot of people around the world who want to come, but some can’t. It’s a privilege to be here.”
Joselyn Torres was disappointed to miss the canonization, but still recognized the historic nature of the events.
“Since we’re doing a pilgrimage, we’re growing spiritually and we’re learning how to become better people,” she said. “And the pope, he is very humble. We learn from that, too, like what he did for the homeless. We can keep his legacy alive by helping other people.”
Maria del Socorro Neria Romero made plans to come from Marseille, France, immediately after she learned of the pope’s passing. She is originally from Mexico and was emotional about how much the pope meant to her.
“It was important for me to be here because he is Latino, he is Argentinian, and he gave us so much hope,” she told America in Spanish. “He represents so much for us. I am also an immigrant, and he spoke so much about immigrants.”
Ms. Neria came to know the Jesuits in Marseille. The Jesuits helped when she brought her mother to live with her in France five years ago. The Jesuits, she said, made her mother feel welcome and spoke with her in Spanish. Unfortunately, Ms. Neria lost her mother this past January, and lost her father before that.
“It is a blessing to be here to pray for my parents, and to pray for the pope who accompanied us,” she said. “Sometimes people treat [immigrants] like we’re from another planet, but we just want to have a good life like anyone else.”
After the Mass, Francis’ body was processed through Rome to St. Mary Major, its final resting place. Young people gathered at Piazza Cavour, where a large screen had been set up to show the day’s events.
Lorenzo Murdocca was among the many young people there, most of whom had come to Rome for the Jubilee of Teenagers.
“We decided to participate in the pope’s funeral because of the importance of the event. It’s been part of the story of the world,” he said, referring to the papacy. “It is very important to be here today. I personally felt sadness but also hope for the future.”
Francesca Picelno was part of the same group, led by Franciscan sisters who work in Italy with teenagers.
“It’s emotional being here,” Ms. Picelno said, adding that she hopes the pope’s love for children and dedication to the poor and incarcerated continue in the next pontificate.
“I didn’t expect this. We thought it would be more of a joyous event,” she said of the planned Acutis canonization. “It is an honor to be here for many young people, for teenagers. It’s sad. But I’m happy to be here.”
[Pope Francis’ death: Reporting and reflections from ‘America’]
