The most heartbreaking farewell: Moment crying nun who knew Pope Francis is allowed to break protocol and stand beside his coffin and silently pray for her old friend

Daily Mail​

24-04-2025

An elderly nun and close friend of Pope Francis for over four decades was allowed to break protocol while visiting his coffin at St Peter's Basilica.
French-Argentine nun, Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, was seen in footage from the first day of Francis' lying-in-state approaching a restricted area to pray before the coffin of the late Pontiff.
The area is traditionally reserved for cardinals, bishops, and priests, but the 81-year-old was permitted to grieve there due to the close friendship they had shared.
Clips of the heartfelt moment circulating on social media show Jeanningros stepping toward a red rope surrounding the coffin with the assistance of an official, who guides her forward.
Dressed in a blue headscarf navy attire, the nun, who Francis affectionately nicknamed L'enfant terrible' - translating to the terrible infant, stood quietly to one side of the open casket.
In a moment of raw emotion, she burst into tears and brings her hands to her face, as she stands just feet away from the body of the late Pope. Taking a tissue, she wipes her eyes and remains in place for a moment.
Despite breaking what is traditionally regarded as protocol, no security official intervened, allowing Francis' close friend an intimate moment of farewell.
In July, the Pope had personally visited Jeanningros in Ostia, Rome, to acknowledge her longstanding humanitarian work.
Their meeting, held at Luna Park fairground, publicly highlighted the Pope's respect and adoration for the nun who has dedicated her time to helping those facing marginalisation and social exclusion.
The nun, from the order of the Little Sisters of Jesus, has dedicated more than 56 years to serving the most disadvantaged people, especially transgender women, in the Ostia area.
She reportedly lives in a caravan with another nun, Anna Amelia Giacchetto.
The relationship between Jeanningros and Francis began when he was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Their connection was strengthened by their shared commitment to the most vulnerable and by the wounds of the Argentine dictatorship.
Every Wednesday, the nun brought groups of fairground workers, homeless people, and transgender women to the Vatican's general audiences. Francis not only received them but also invited them to lunch and offered financial support.
The heartfelt moment from Jeanningros at Francis' lying-in-state comes after some mourners sparked fury when they were seen snapping morbid selfies with his dead body.
On Instagram, one image saw a woman smiling at the camera as she displayed the Pope clutching his rosary around 10ft behind her. His body, dressed in his white mitre and red Papal robe symbolising love and the blood of Christ, can clearly be seen in the coffin which lies on a raised platform.
Officials released photos of Francis in his velvet-lined coffin and did not ban public pictures, but guards reportedly stopped some morbid mourners using phone cameras.
Mourners who queued up eight hours to catch a final glimpse of the late Pope before he is buried on Saturday said the actions of the selfie-takers was 'a bit in poor taste'.
Janine Venables, 53, from Pontypridd, south Wales told MailOnline: 'What did surprise me is the fact that earlier we were told no photos in the Sistine Chapel and here people were getting their phone out and doing selfies with the coffin.
'I did think that was a bit in poor taste and I'm surprised no one stopped them.'
A Vatican source said: 'It would be good if people could try and remember where they are and have a little respect but there's little else that can be done.'
Some 19,430 people had been to the basilica 'to pay homage to Pope Francis' less than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there, and where it will stay until Friday.
While it had been expected that St, Peter's would close at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, it remained open throughout the night to allow more people to pay their respects.
By late yesterday evening, the wait appeared to be three or four hours and growing. An official doing crowd management estimated that the wait was closer to five hours.
Security measures have been heightened around the Vatican, with Italian police conducting foot and horse patrols in the area.
Police have been managing crowd control at various points on the approach to the square, with some checking bags, as mourners mingled with the usual tourist population.
Large crowds are expected for Saturday's funeral in St Peter's Square, with the Prince of Wales, a future head of the Church of England, confirmed to be attending on the King's behalf.