02-05-2025
An AP photographer expresses the simplicity of Pope Francis in one eternal frame
ROME (AP) — Bernat Armangué has spent nearly 20 years working for The Associated Press, where he has held correspondent posts in the Middle East, South Asia and, currently, Spain. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for his coverage of the war in Ukraine. Other notable honors include a World Press Photo award, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and Overseas Press Club this photo?
This photograph is part of AP's photo coverage of Pope Francis's funeral. I arrived in Rome just hours after the announcement of his death and have since been documenting most of the developments surrounding the funeral: faithful queuing to pay their respects, rosary prayers, heightened security measures, waves of tourists and pilgrims taking snapshots with their cell phones or live-streaming whatever was in front of them and, finally, the funeral of a Pope who chose to be buried in a basilica outside St. Peter's Square – the location where this photo was taken.
How I made this photo
Some pictures take hours of walking around looking for the right moment, place, frame and light. Other photos just show up. This one, is the second kind. … All day long, thousands of faithful walked past the tomb and, like the rest of them, I was allowed just few seconds in front of it. I knew I wouldn't have a second chance, so I made sure all my camera presets were correct. Once there, I saw a white rose atop a tomb only with the word 'Franciscus' engraved on it. It was easy to decide that this was the frame I wanted. I pressed the button and walked away.
Why this photo works
Probably because of its simplicity – like the tomb itself – and, to some extent, because it also reflects the pontificate of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit who rose to become the highest authority in the Catholic Church and chose to break away from the omnipresent opulence of the Vatican.
For more extraordinary AP photography, click here.
