Latest news with #French-Argentine
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Nun who broke protocol at Pope's funeral speaks out after viral moment
A devastated nun who went viral for breaking protocol as she stood by Pope Francis' coffin has spoken out after bursting into tears next to his casket. Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, 81, was given the go-ahead to stand by her close friend's coffin on the first day of the Pope's lying-in-state. The French-Argentine nun was seen entering the restricted zone at St Peter's Basilica, which is usually kept private for priests, bishops and cardinals. However, she was allowed to step into the area because of their sweet friendship, which began when the Pope was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In the viral footage, the nun could be seen wiping away her tears with a tissue. Now, she has spoken of the moment she went to his casket and said some of her sadness was from the requests people had given her before she went. She has now visited St. Peter's Basilica four times, with the most recent being on Friday. She told the Vatican press service: "Many people told me: when you go to see the Pope, take us with you. I cried for them too." On her latest visit, she brought along Laura Esquibel, a trans woman who also knew Pope Francis. Laura, from Paraguay, said: "I was the first trans woman to shake his hand. I've seen him seven times, we had lunch together. I liked him a lot." Since going viral, Geneviève has received dozens of requests from the press to give interviews, however, she has denied them all, reports GI. She admitted she struggles to speak about the subject. She added: "No, I can't. I don't want to talk to anyone, I'm sorry. I can't because it's too much, you know? I liked him a lot, that's it." Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, the Vatican said on the eve of his funeral. World leaders and dignitaries were arriving in Rome on Friday to attend what will be a huge gathering in St Peter's Square for his requiem mass. The final mourners had a chance to see the Pope close up in the grand surrounds of St Peter's Basilica before his coffin was closed in private. Following Saturday's open-air funeral in the square, Francis' remains will be taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body is brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Nun who broke protocol at Pope Francis' coffin speaks out over viral moment
Sister Genevieve Jeanningros has opened up about her heartbreak following the death of Pope Francis - she admitted his passing is too hard to speak about and has rejected further interview requests A devastated nun who went viral for breaking protocol as she stood by Pope Francis' coffin has spoken out after bursting into tears next to his casket. Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, 81, was given the go-ahead to stand by her close friend's coffin on the first day of the Pope's lying-in-state. The French-Argentine nun was seen entering the restricted zone at St Peter's Basilica, which is usually kept private for priests, bishops and cardinals. However, she was allowed to step into the area because of their sweet friendship, which began when the Pope was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In the viral footage, the nun could be seen wiping away her tears with a tissue. Now, she has spoken of the moment she went to his casket and said some of her sadness was from the requests people had given her before she went. She has now visited St. Peter's Basilica four times, with the most recent being on Friday. She told the Vatican press service: "Many people told me: when you go to see the Pope, take us with you. I cried for them too." On her latest visit, she brought along Laura Esquibel, a trans woman who also knew Pope Francis. Laura, from Paraguay, said: "I was the first trans woman to shake his hand. I've seen him seven times, we had lunch together. I liked him a lot." Since going viral, Geneviève has received dozens of requests from the press to give interviews, however, she has denied them all, reports GI. She admitted she struggles to speak about the subject. She added: 'No, I can't. I don't want to talk to anyone, I'm sorry. I can't because it's too much, you know? I liked him a lot, that's it.' Some 250,000 mourners paid their respects to Pope Francis over a three-day lying-in-state, the Vatican said on the eve of his funeral. World leaders and dignitaries were arriving in Rome on Friday to attend what will be a huge gathering in St Peter's Square for his requiem mass. The final mourners had a chance to see the Pope close up in the grand surrounds of St Peter's Basilica before his coffin was closed in private. Following Saturday's open-air funeral in the square, Francis' remains will be taken through the streets of Rome in another break with tradition, as his body is brought to a simple underground tomb in the basilica of Saint Mary Major, as per his instructions.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
WATCH: Elderly nun, close friend of Pope Francis, breaks protocol to bid a tearful farewell
Breaking traditional protocol, Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, an elderly French-Argentine nun and close friend of Pope Francis, was seen bidding a tearful farewell to the late pontiff inside the restricted area where his coffin is placed at St. Peter's Basilica. The emotional moment was captured from the footage of Pope's first day of lying-in-state and shared on social media. It shows an official gently guiding Jeanningros in a blue headscarf and navy attire towards the casket. Only cardinals, bishops, and priests are typically allowed in the restricted area around the Pope's lying-in-state. However, no security personnel intervened, allowing the nun a quiet, intimate moment of grief. How their friendship began The 81-year-old nun, a member of the Little Sisters of Jesus, stood for a few moments in front of the coffin, wiping away tears as she said her final goodbyes. Known for lifelong dedication to serving the marginalised, Jeanningros and the Pope shared a bond that began in Buenos Aires when he was still Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio. Jeanningros was known to Pope Francis as a trusted confidante for over four decades. She had first become acquainted with him during his time in Argentina, and their friendship deepened as they worked together to advocate for the vulnerable, particularly the marginalized. Jeanningros, who lived in a caravan outside Rome until last year, devoted more than 56 years to humanitarian work, serving people in Ostia, particularly those living on the margins of society. In a video posted by her religious order, Jeanningros recalled how Pope Francis had once personally called her to console her over the death of her aunt, a nun who was forcibly disappeared during Argentina's military dictatorship. Their bond was also marked by shared ideals of compassion and social justice, with Jeanningros often bringing disadvantaged individuals to the Vatican's general audiences. Pope Francis not only welcomed them but also offered financial support and invited them to meals.
Perth Now
26-04-2025
- Perth Now
Pope Francis' coffin sealed as leaders arrive for funeral
Amid the 90,000 flocking to pay their respects to Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica, an octogenarian nun, carrying a green backpack, quietly broke strict Vatican protocol to approach the coffin of the late Pontiff. French-Argentine nun Sister Geneviève Jeanningros was granted a rare exception to protocol at St. Peter's Basilica. Credit: Vatican Media/X / supplied As hordes continued to follow the Holy See's instruction to pray and cry in silence as the late Pontiff lay in state, 81-year-old Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, who comes from the order of the Little Sisters of Jesus, moved beyond the red rope to farewell Francis, with whom she shared a friendship for more than four decades. The pair's relationship stretched back to Francis' home country of Argentina, where Genevieve's aunt, a French nun was kidnapped and murdered in 1977 during the military dictatorship of Alfredo Astiz. The tragedy led French-Argentine Sister Jeanningros to get involved with defending human rights while maintaining links with Argentina, where she met Francis when he was still Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Buenos Aires' archbishop. The pair bonded over their ties to victims of the repression, according to Pope Francis even gave her the nickname 'L'enfant terrible' for her rebellious spirit, with Sister Jeanningros known to bring homeless people and transgender women to the Vatican's general audiences each week, where the Pontiff received them with open arms. It was little wonder neither the Swiss Guards nor the gendarmes moved to stop Sister Jeanningros from approaching Francis' simple wooden coffin, where she prayed and cried for 20 minutes in a profound show of faith that went viral. Read the full story.
West Australian
25-04-2025
- General
- West Australian
Pope Francis' funeral live updates: Coffin sealed as US President Donald Trump, First Lady arrive in Rome
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Amid the 90,000 flocking to pay their respects to Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica, an octogenarian nun, carrying a green backpack, quietly broke strict Vatican protocol to approach the coffin of the late Pontiff. As hordes continued to follow the Holy See's instruction to pray and cry in silence as the late Pontiff lay in state, 81-year-old Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, who comes from the order of the Little Sisters of Jesus, moved beyond the red rope to farewell Francis, with whom she shared a friendship for more than four decades. The pair's relationship stretched back to Francis' home country of Argentina, where Genevieve's aunt, a French nun was kidnapped and murdered in 1977 during the military dictatorship of Alfredo Astiz. The tragedy led French-Argentine Sister Jeanningros to get involved with defending human rights while maintaining links with Argentina, where she met Francis when he was still Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Buenos Aires' archbishop. The pair bonded over their ties to victims of the repression, according to Pope Francis even gave her the nickname 'L'enfant terrible' for her rebellious spirit, with Sister Jeanningros known to bring homeless people and transgender women to the Vatican's general audiences each week, where the Pontiff received them with open arms. It was little wonder neither the Swiss Guards nor the gendarmes moved to stop Sister Jeanningros from approaching Francis' simple wooden coffin, where she prayed and cried for 20 minutes in a profound show of faith that went viral. Read the full story. After around 250,000 people visited St Peter's Basilica to pay tribute to Pope Francis as he lay in state, his coffin has been sealed ahead of his funeral. In a private ceremony attended by senior members of the Catholic church, Cardinal-Camerlengo Kevin Farrell paid tribute to Pope Francis, highlighting his most significant achievements personally and as pope. Archbishop Diego Ravelli then positioned a white silk cloth over Pope Francis' face as holy water was sprinkled over his body. A simple lid on Francis' wood and zinc coffin was then positioned to complete the sealing. More than 100,000 mourners filed into St Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis, viewing his open coffin in the final visiting hours ahead of his funeral. Soon after 7pm local time on Friday the Vatican ended a TV broadcast of the visits that had been running nearly continuously, ahead of a private ceremony to seal his casket. As Italian and Vatican police prepared to close the long queue through the central nave of the church, the last visitors shuffled in. The 88-year-old pope, who had led the Church since 2013, died on Monday in his rooms at the Vatican's Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke as he was recuperating from weeks of pneumonia. About 250,000 people from all over the world have lined up to say farewell since his body was brought to St Peter's on Wednesday to lie in state, the Vatican said. Read the full story here. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have landed in Rome ahead of Pope Francis' funeral which will take place from 10am local time (6pm AEST). The Trump's landed on Friday evening (local time) in what is the President's first overseas trip since returning to office.
