The nun who gained notoriety for defying procedure to attend Pope Francis’ funeral has now discussed the poignant occasion in public.
Millions of Catholics mourned Francis’ passing, including the late Pope’s lifelong friend Sister Geneviève Jeanningros. Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as the head of the Catholic Church for 12 years before suffering a stroke and dying on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88.
Francis, who was elected pope in March 2013 following the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, was known for his emphasis on inclusivity, a principle that Sister Geneviève found particularly appealing.
Their connection began in 2005 when Geneviève went to Buenos Aires to attend the funeral of her aunt, Leonie Duquet, a nun who had passed away in the 1970s under Argentina’s dictatorship. The reburial was authorized by then-Archbishop Bergoglio, and the meeting led to a friendship that would endure for almost twenty years.
Geneviève developed a deep bond with Francis and has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. Over the years, she would meet with him once a week along with a group of LGBTQ+ people. Francis visited his 81-year-old pal in Ostia as recently as last July.
Despite Vatican policy restricting access to male clergy only, Sister Geneviève went to Francis’ casket to bid him a personal farewell on Wednesday, April 23, while he lay in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In a scene that went viral, the nun stood close to the casket, clutching a tissue to wipe away her tears. Nobody stepped in, according to NBC News, so she was able to grieve privately for a little while.
Geneviève called Francis “a father, a friend, and a brother” in an interview with Noticias Telemundo at the Vatican on Friday, April 25. She also disclosed that, in addition to the highly publicized moment, she had been going to pay her respects every day.
She told the Vatican press agency, “A lot of people told me to bring us along when you go see the Pope.” “I also shed tears for them.”
Geneviève also talked about her most recent encounter with Francis, during which she brought a transgender woman from Paraguay named Laura Esquibel. Laura remarked, “I was the first trans woman to shake his hand.” We had lunch together, and I’ve seen him seven times. I thought he was great.
Sister Geneviève has denied additional interviews since the funeral, stating that the pain is too great. “No, I am unable to. She said, “I’m sorry, I don’t want to talk to anyone,” according to GI. “You know, it’s too much, so I can’t. It was just that I really liked him.
Before his funeral, some 250,000 people paid a visit to Francis’ casket, and many more crowded St. Peter’s Square for the last farewell. Among the dignitaries and world leaders were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince William, and U.S. President Donald Trump, whose actions during the burial garnered harsh condemnation.
