Farewell to the Pope: Nun broke protocol on Saturday

She was considered a confidante of the Pope. Her farewell was a moving scene at Francis's coffin.

As the cardinals and bishops of the Catholic Church were standing in orderly fashion at the open coffin of Pope Francis on Friday, an elderly woman suddenly appeared at the side. Dressed as a nun, with a small green backpack on her back, she stood at the barrier, contrary to official protocol, and remained there for several minutes.

The highest dignitaries of the church stood around her, some even conversing, others bowing before the coffin and moving on, as could be seen on television footage. No one paid any attention to the grieving, lonely woman. She sobbed and held a handkerchief to her face. The fact that the security personnel didn't intervene, but even led her to the coffin, indicated that this must have been a special person.

And indeed, Sister Genevieve Jeanningros is not just any nun. She was a close confidante of Pope Francis. The 82-year-old is one of the few women who were close to the Pope. She served as a nun in Ostia, Rome , as reported by "Vatican News." There, she cared for circus performers, the homeless, and transgender people. She often accompanied them to the Pope's general audiences.

"Many people told me: If you go to the Pope, take us with you. And so I entrusted them all to him," she told Vatican News. "I loved him very much." And so, after a few minutes, she bid farewell with a kiss to the man who had shaped many years of her life.

The Frenchwoman was considered a close confidante of the Pope. Francis repeatedly called her, encouraged her, asked questions. And sometimes he even teased her, according to "Vatican News." For example, during a visit to the Luna Park in Ostia, where he visited her in her caravan, he joked: "What is Sister Geneviève doing here? Taming the lions?" And when she appeared at a general audience with a bandage on her arm, the Pope allegedly asked: "What happened?" - "Holy Father, I fell." - "And did the floor hurt?" Francis replied, meant as a joke.

She never made a big deal about her closeness to the Pope. The two already knew each other from his time in Argentina. But it wasn't about a special relationship, but rather about "paying homage to a great Pope." "He was a father, a brother, a friend. He will be missed by everyone. And I'm moved to see so many people here today," she said.