Latest news with #Jeanningros
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.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Dramatic moment man is dragged from queue to see Pope Francis after he started screaming
A grieving man has been dragged from the hours-long queue to see the body of Pope Francis, after he began screaming. Shocking footage showed the man inside the Vatican shouting in broken Italian: 'I want to see the Pope.' He shouted: 'The Pope is dead... My name is Samuel, Peter is dead. Samuel is here.' The man, who has not been identified, was gently led out. But photos taken shortly after the uproar showed him thrashing against several guards outside the Vatican. Emotions are high among the tens of thousands of people who have flown into Italy from across the world to pay their respects to the late pontiff, who died on Monday at the age of 88. The nun who was allowed to break protocol to say goodbye to her close friend Pope Francis returned on Friday for a final farewell hours before his coffin is sealed. French-Argentine nun Sister Genevieve Jeanningros was allowed into a restricted area on the first day of the pontiff's lying-in-state to pray before the coffin. The area is traditionally reserved for cardinals, bishops, and priests, but the 81-year-old was allowed in to grieve their friendship, which lasted more than four decades. Jeanningros was seen again on Friday at St Peter's Square, and visiting the Basilica of St Peter to pay her respects once more before the funeral on Saturday. The nun, of the order of the Little Sisters of Jesus, was joined by others as they made the difficult journey to see the pontiff. The Pope had personally visited Jeanningros, whom he playfully referred to l'enfant terrible (the terrible child), in July in Ostia to acknowledge her humanitarian work. Some 150,000 people have passed by Francis's coffin as he lay in state over the past three days in St Peter's Basilica. But the queue for the basilica will close to the public at 6pm local time, with viewings expected to end at 7pm. That time has been pushed back already, remaining open through the night on Thursday to allow more people to pay their respects. Criticism has landed on some mourners taking selfies in front of the open casket, with the Vatican 'inviting' people 'not to take photos'. But it was the appearance of Genevieve Jeanningros on Thursday that most moved onlookers around the world. Jeanningros was seen stepping toward a red rope surrounding the coffin with the assistance of an official, who guided her forward. Dressed in a blue headscarf and navy attire, she stood quietly to one side of the open casket. She then burst into tears and brought her hands to her face, feet away from the late Pope. Taking a tissue, she wiped her eyes and remained 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. Their July meeting in Ostia, 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 has dedicated more than 56 years to serving the most disadvantaged people, especially transgender women, in the region. 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. Tens of thousands of mourners again filed into St. Peter's Basilica on Friday on the last day to pay final respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday. Long queues snaked around St. Peter's Square and the surrounding roads, before being funnelled through the heart of the basilica in a single column leading to the central altar, where Francis' open-topped coffin was displayed on a dais. The body of the 88-year-old pope, who died on Monday in his rooms at the Vatican's Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke, was brought to St. Peter's in a solemn procession on Wednesday. Since then, about 150,000 people from all over the world have bid farewell to the pontiff, the Vatican said. 'It's a very strong feeling (to be here),' said Patricio Castriota, a visitor who, like the pope, is from Argentina. 'This farewell was very sad, but I thank God that I was able to see him'. 'He's the only pope we've had who came from South America, a pope who had many good intentions for the Catholic Church,' Castriota told Reuters. 'He cleaned up (a lot) of the bad, maybe not all of it, but he tried.' Francis, who was pope since 2013, was the first pontiff from the Western hemisphere and was known for an unusually charming, and even humorous, demeanour. His 12-year papacy was sometimes turbulent, with Francis seeking to overhaul a divided institution but battling with traditionalists who opposed his many changes. 'He humanised the church, without desacralising it,' said Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, who leads the Church on the French island of Corsica. Queues on Friday morning were stretching halfway down the main boulevard leading through Rome into the Vatican. People were pressing forward slowly, some waiting hours, in order to have a few minutes inside to pay their respects to Francis.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Nun whose emotional farewell to Pope Francis was seen around the world returns to say one last goodbye hours before the pontiff's coffin is sealed
The nun who was allowed to break protocol to say goodbye to her close friend Pope Francis returned on Friday for a final farewell hours before his coffin is sealed. French-Argentine nun Sister Genevieve Jeanningros was allowed into a restricted area on the first day of the pontiff's lying-in-state to pray before the coffin. The area is traditionally reserved for cardinals, bishops, and priests, but the 81-year-old was allowed in to grieve their friendship, which lasted more than four decades. The moving images circulated widely on social media as she joined more than 150,000 mourners in paying their respects beside the open casket. Jeanningros was seen again on Friday at St Peter's Square, and visiting the Basilica of St Peter to pay her respects once more before the funeral on Saturday. The nun, of the order of the Little Sisters of Jesus, was joined by others as they made the difficult journey to see the pontiff, who died only on Monday, aged 88. The Pope had personally visited Jeanningros, whom he playfully referred to l'enfant terrible (the terrible child), in July in Ostia to acknowledge her humanitarian work. 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 Some 150,000 people have passed by Francis's coffin as he lay in state over the past three days in St Peter's Basilica. But the queue for the basilica will close to the public at 6pm local time, with viewings expected to end at 7pm. That time has been pushed back already, remaining open through the night on Thursday to allow more people to pay their respects. Criticism has landed on some mourners taking selfies in front of the open casket, with the Vatican 'inviting' people 'not to take photos'. But it was the appearance of Genevieve Jeanningros on Thursday that most moved onlookers around the world. Jeanningros was seen stepping toward a red rope surrounding the coffin with the assistance of an official, who guided her forward. Dressed in a blue headscarf and navy attire, she stood quietly to one side of the open casket. She then burst into tears and brought her hands to her face, feet away from the late Pope. Taking a tissue, she wiped her eyes and remained 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. Their July meeting in Ostia, 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 has dedicated more than 56 years to serving the most disadvantaged people, especially transgender women, in the region. 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. Tens of thousands of mourners again filed into St. Peter's Basilica on Friday on the last day to pay final respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral on Saturday. Long queues snaked around St. Peter's Square and the surrounding roads, before being funnelled through the heart of the basilica in a single column leading to the central altar, where Francis' open-topped coffin was displayed on a dais. The body of the 88-year-old pope, who died on Monday in his rooms at the Vatican's Santa Marta guesthouse after suffering a stroke, was brought to St. Peter's in a solemn procession on Wednesday. Since then, about 150,000 people from all over the world have bid farewell to the pontiff, the Vatican said. 'It's a very strong feeling (to be here),' said Patricio Castriota, a visitor who, like the pope, is from Argentina. 'This farewell was very sad, but I thank God that I was able to see him'. 'He's the only pope we've had who came from South America, a pope who had many good intentions for the Catholic Church,' Castriota told Reuters. 'He cleaned up (a lot) of the bad, maybe not all of it, but he tried.' Francis, who was pope since 2013, was the first pontiff from the Western hemisphere and was known for an unusually charming, and even humorous, demeanour. His 12-year papacy was sometimes turbulent, with Francis seeking to overhaul a divided institution but battling with traditionalists who opposed his many changes. 'He humanised the church, without desacralising it,' said Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, who leads the Church on the French island of Corsica. Queues on Friday morning were stretching halfway down the main boulevard leading through Rome into the Vatican. People were pressing forward slowly, some waiting hours, in order to have a few minutes inside to pay their respects to Francis.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
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
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.
