The nun who broke tradition at Pope Francis’ funeral
One silent act of love won hearts all across the world in a moment that transcended the seriousness of Vatican tradition. One person acted inappropriately on April 23, as thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica to say goodbye to Pope Francis. She was neither a politician nor a dignitary.
Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, an 81-year-old nun, was not merely there to pay her respects. The picture of Sister Jeanningros with a green knapsack thrown over one shoulder and tears in her eyes while standing quietly next to the Pope’s coffin went viral very fast. She lingered, violating formation but not faith, while clergy and mourners adhered to rigid Vatican decorum.
The Vatican reported that Pope Francis, whose real name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away from a stroke on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88. Over 48,000 people visited his coffin in a 24-hour period. However, none had the same effect as Sister Jeanningros. Although hardly many people are familiar with her, she had a close relationship with the late pope. Francis was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires when the two first met more than forty years ago.
Both were committed to helping the marginalized members of society, including the homeless, transgender persons, circus artists, and the terminally ill. Even when Bergoglio took over as head of the Catholic Church, their friendship remained strong because of their mutual respect and similar ideals. After watching the video of Sister Jeanningros sobbing softly next to the coffin, one user commented, “That’s genuine pain.” “This is a momentous occasion.”
Sister Jeanningros, who was born in France but grew up in Argentina, is a member of the Little Sisters of Jesus order, which is renowned for its ability to live and work with underprivileged groups. She has been serving the social misfits in a humble trailer on the outskirts of Rome for years alongside sister nun Sister Anna Amelia Giachetto.
She would see Pope Francis every Wednesday, occasionally bringing people from the streets to meet him. They were always welcomed by the Pope, who never stood on ceremony. He would frequently ask them to join him for lunch.
And loss was nothing new to her. The military dictatorship in Argentina during the Dirty War kidnapped and murdered her aunt, a French nun named Leonie Duquet. Pope Francis, who was raised by Italian immigrants in Argentina, sympathized with her sorrow and supported her during it.
At first, many believed Sister Jeanningros had stepped out of line to approach the casket, in violation of Vatican tradition. Actually, she had been discreetly given special authorization, a unique distinction that isn’t given to cardinals or heads of state but rather to someone whose relationship with the Pope goes beyond position.
She is seen in pictures amidst the masses, looking modest in a rucksack and a basic attire. However, she stood for something significant in that moment next to the coffin: a life of silent dedication and a friendship based on purpose rather than politics.
In one moving image, the Pope and Sister Jeanningros are seen grinning and beaming together during an outdoor gathering. In another, they both adore the circus and think it has the ability to inspire people, so they bless a statue during a fair with a circus theme. This week’s final trip to the Vatican wasn’t your typical one. It was a farewell.
One person thought, “She went up to her friend like she always did on Wednesdays.” But this encounter turned out to be unique. She came to bid him farewell in the hopes of seeing him again in the afterlife. Sister Jeanningros and Pope Francis represented something softer—inclusion, charity, and practical ministry—in a Church that was frequently condemned for being inflexible. She didn’t have to say farewell in a big show.
Like the guy she came to mourn, it was quiet, unvarnished, and incredibly human. One thing also emerges as her photograph keeps going viral online: Sometimes the most impactful eulogies aren’t spoken but rather are conveyed with presence.
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