On April 20, not in 1990 but in 2025, it was a spring day without rain in Rome, as if nature already knew it was his last day on Earth. Pope Francis went out into the crowded St. Peter's Square as a bullfighter goes out for the greatest of tasks, that of bidding farewell to his people on Easter Sunday. With the commitment, courage and dedication of giants who do everything for love until their last breath.
With the intuition that it was the last time we would see Francis, we approached the "barrier", to see him pass in the popemobile through the corridors of fences of St. Peter's Square, overturned with his public. Previously, before the blessing "urbi et orbi", he had said his last words to everyone with a certain clarity: "Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter", and that gesture alone had filled us with encouragement.
The farewell
At that moment the group of pilgrims from Madrid, pilgrims winning the Jubilee, became aware that we were the Christianity that contemplated his farewell, since he would soon leave in the "popemobile" to the afterlife. For this reason, we threw ourselves into it, knowing that we were giving him back part of what he gave us, enjoying the historic moment we were living and that we were acquiring the responsibility of those who have something to tell.
The next morning we received the news of their deathA few hours later at Mass in St. Mary of Peace, in the prelatic church of Opus Dei, at the tomb of St. Josemaría in Rome, before leaving for Madrid. And there we asked this saint, faithful to the Roman Pontiff, to put him in his rightful place, for the conclave and for the next Pope.
The funeral of Pope Francis
One of the pilgrims shared in the group the words of the book "Hope", Pope Francis' autobiography, where he explains how he wanted the group to proceed at this moment:
"When I die, I will not be buried in St. Peter's, but in St. Mary Major: the Vatican is the home of my last service, not that of eternity. I will be in the room where they now guard the candelabra, close to that Queen of Peace to whom I have always asked for help and by whom I have had myself embraced during my pontificate more than a hundred times. It has been confirmed to me that everything is ready.
The funeral ritual was too pompous and I spoke with the master of ceremonies to lighten it: no catafalque, no ceremony for the closing of the coffin. With dignity, but like any Christian. Although I know that He has already granted me many, I only asked the Lord for one more grace: take care of me, whenever you want, but, as you know, I am quite afraid of physical pain... So, please, don't let it hurt me too much".
