Last Group to Say Goodbye to Pope Francis' Coffin Included Trans People, Prisoners and the Poor
In one of the final moments from his funeral, Pope Francis' coffin was welcomed by members of marginalized groups near and dear to his heart.
Before he died on Monday, April 21, the head of the Catholic Church had already arranged his final wishes — which included allowing 'poor and marginalized people' to be the last to pay their respects, the Vatican said.
At the end of his funeral procession through Rome on Saturday, April 26, a group of about 40, consisting of 'poor people, homeless, prisoners, migrants and transgender individuals,' gathered at St. Mary Major Basilica, making them the last to say goodbye to the pontiff before his burial.
Each person was given a single white rose.
'I find this a very moving choice, because Pope Francis is being received by the Mother he loved so much ... and by his favourite children, who will surround him on this final journey," Bishop Ambarus said of the choice, according to the Vatican. "I think it's something truly beautiful."
The church said that according to Ambarus, almost all of the migrants and homeless individuals met Francis at least once, while the "small group of transgender individuals ... live with a community of nuns."
Francis was long devoted to the poor — he took his papal name from Francis of Assisi — and, as pontiff, he upended the church's messaging with a more welcoming tone on the LGBTQ+ community, courting controversy from conservatives.
However, he made clear that he was not pushing to change underlying doctrine about issues like same-sex marriage.
Related: Pope Francis' Funeral Will Be 'Broadcast Worldwide' and Stream Online, with Hundreds of Thousands Expected to Attend
Father Patrick Briscoe, a Dominican friar and the editor of Our Sunday Visitor magazine, tells PEOPLE that having "this group of marginalized persons on the steps of St. Mary Major is a beautiful last farewell" that "beautifully encapsulates and embodies Pope Francis' ministry."
"Pope Francis spent his papacy trying to serve, drawing all his attention to the margins, the periphery, wanting everyone to know that they're loved by God, that they have a place in the Church," Briscoe says.
"Pope Francis was famous for spending Holy Thursday, one of the most sacred nights of the year, washing the feet of migrants and of incarcerated persons," he adds. "It's not a statement about doctrine, but a symbol of openness and engagement."
Related: Nun Who Was Pope Francis' Friend Breaks Vatican Protocol While Weeping Over His Casket
From Wednesday, April 23, until his casket was sealed on Friday, April 25, hundreds of thousands of people waited in line for hours for a chance to pay their respects to Francis.
"It was his compassion that really brought people to him," Sophia Cabello told PEOPLE after two hours of waiting in line.
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The University of Dallas student who is studying abroad in Rome said: "Even people who aren't necessarily religious, people who aren't Catholic, I've seen giving condolences and really appreciating what he did in his life."
"He was very important for us, so it only makes sense that we would be wanting to do as much as we can, pray as much as we can, love and pray for his soul as much as we can," Cabello continued. "It kind of feels unifying in a way, that people from all different parts of the world are coming just for this. It's a very special moment."
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