Pope Francis was buried this Saturday in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor de Rome, after a massive goodbye to the pontiff coming from the “end of the world” that put the disadvantaged in the heart of the Catholic Church.
(Read: massive farewell: last goodbye to Pope Francis in the Plaza de San Pedro).
Minutes before, the funeral in his honor highlighted his “Innumerable” Efforts in defense of migrants and refugees, from the Mediterranean to Mexico, before 250,000 people and world dignitaries such as Donald Trump congregated in the Plaza de San Pedro and its surroundings.
His burial, the first of a Pope outside the walls of the Vatican from Leo XIII in 2013, ends 12 years from a pontificate marked by the defense of migrants, the environment and social justice.
“It was a Pope in the midst of people with an open heart towards everyone” And he lent “Special Attention” a “The last of the earth, the marginalized”highlighted during the homily Cardinal Giovanni Battista re.
Before dozens of International leaders, REBUDO their “Innumerable” gestures towards refugees and migrants, such as the Mass held in 2016 on the border between Mexico and the United Statesand towards the poor.
Weeks before he died, the Argentine Jesuit harshly criticized the American policy of expelling migrants.
(See: Homily of the funeral highlights the importance of migrants in Francisco’s pontificate).
This did not prevent Trump from praising a man “fantastic” what “He loved the world”. Another of the struggles of the “Holy Father”, which Cardinal Dean recalled, also resonated strongly in the square, when the United States tries to achieve a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, at war since February 2022.
“Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice imploring peace and inviting wisdom, honest negotiation to find possible solutions.” To the wars, the purple, among applause of the public.
The pontiff funeral served as a stage for a discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski. Both leaders agreed to gather again on Saturday in Rome, kyiv said.
Pope Francis’s funeral.
EFE
‘A human being’
The popular fervor for the Argentine Jesuit led many faithful to arrive at dawn to ensure a good position, when they opened the accesses four hours before the trade.
“It wasn’t just the Pope, it was the definition of what a human being is”Said Andrea Ugalde, 39 years old and the arrival of Los Angeles. “The church changed (…) defended the sick, homeless, the poor, animals”he added.
Among the tide of faithful was also the Australian Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, accompanied by his family, confirmed an AFP photographer.
For three days of burning chapel, 250,000 people had already paid tribute to the Argentine pontiff, some waiting even until late in the morning.
Dozens of presidents, monarchs and prime ministers also traveled to Italy to fire Francisco, including Argentine Javier Milei, the Brazilian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the kings of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia.
(Here: ‘Pope Francis did not cease to implore peace’).
The leader of 1.4 billion Catholics in the world died on April 21 at age 88 for a stroke, almost a month after leaving a long hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia.
Despite the time difference, evenings were organized to follow the funeral from their native Argentina, which he never returned as a potato.
San Pedro Square.
EFE
Evening in Argentina
In front of the Cathedral of Buenos Aires, in the Plaza de Mayo, a hundred young people organized a vigil with songs and candles until the beginning of the funeral, at five in the morning.
The event serves “To claim the Pope’s legacy, to transform the sadness that his departure left us into a lighthouse of hope”He told AFP Iara Amado, a 25 -year -old social worker.
Santa María la Mayor, the last dwelling of the Pope, will be 11,000 km from his native neighborhood of Flores.
For its transfer, the Italian government imposed an aerial exclusion zone on Rome and deployed anti -products units, snipers on the roofs and several combat planes ready to take off.
Despite this deployment, his grave will be faithful to the image of simplicity that was worked: marble from the northern Italian area where his family was originally originally and with “Franciscus” as the only registration.
‘A simple shepherd’
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose his name of Sumo Pontiff in tribute to San Francisco de Asís, the Holy of the Poor, when he was chosen on March 13, 2013.
The 266th Pope brought “the end of the world” his austere style, that led him to choose a sober apartment instead of the luxurious apostolic palace, and invite homeless people and prisoners.
Symbol of their legacy, a group of poor, prisoners, migrants and trans people will receive with a white rose the coffin upon arrival in Santa María la Mayor, according to the official agency Vatican News.
“He was a simple and very dear shepherd in his archdiocese, who was traveling everywhere, even on the subway and bus (…) because he felt one more from the town,” Pray the Rogito, an official obituary that reviews his life.
This was deposited on Friday night inside its wooden coffin, covered with a zinc plate and another wood marked with a cross. His black shoes and his inseparable Rosario will also accompany him for eternity.
The fight against pedophilia in the Church and the impulse of a higher role for women and laity are part of their reformist legacy, but also faced a tough conservative opposition in the institution.
The goodbye to Francisco will give way to the choice of his successor. The conclave to choose it must be called between 15 and 20 days after their death, although the cardinals could do it before on a date still to be defined.
AFP
