Apr 24, 2025 | Church, fi, Hijas de Jesús, News

Clara Echarte, Hijas de Jesus, shares with us the emotional moment she experienced when she bid farewell to Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica. With this article, we too will be able to feel closer to this time that we are living as Church and to unite with so many pilgrims in expressing our deep gratitude towards the pontificate of Pope Francis.

During last Monday’s Eucharist for the beginning of the GCXIX, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ gave us the news of the death of Pope Francis at the end of communion. It was a great surprise for all of us. Those of us who saw him appear in the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday at the ‘Urbi et orbi’ blessing, riding the popemobile, greeting the people in the Vatican square, sensed that he was not well at all.

Since that day I have wished I could give him the last greeting. I remembered when he was elected, those of us who then lived in the Curia went to St. Peter’s Basilica and saw him in his first greeting to the city of Rome and to the whole Church.

Now that the sisters of the Stela Maris community in Rome have welcomed me these days, and from this house it is very easy to get to the Vatican, I decided to go last night.

I felt the desire to thank him for everything he has done to open new paths in the Church, for the impetus he has given the Consecrated Life and, in particular, for the trust he has placed in me for the assignment I now have. I need to ask him to accompany me in this very complex service in which he has asked me to do.

I also wanted to place him as an intercessor before the Spirit of the Risen Lord, the One who has fostered discernment so much, so that the sisters present at GC XIX may discern the will of the Father in our history today and all of us, Hijas de Jesus, may accept the decisions they make and put them into action.

I left home at 5:40 AM and at 6:20 AM I was at the Vatican entrance to the Plaza from Santa Ana. There were already people, but not so many, a group of young people with their parish priest who were going to Perugia, but they have changed their plans, families with children, priests, religious and different people….

At 7:30 am they let us into St. Peter’s Square… with no pushing and shoving, no running as sometimes happens. I was able to sit in the second row in front of the steps. The morning was beautiful, with lots of light; the seagulls flying, the clouds opening up… and an impressive silence. I was able to pray with the Gospel of the day, Emmaus. Sometimes, unbelief and doubt dwell in my heart and weaken the certainty that gives me the faith of the presence of God, of the dead and risen Christ in my life’s journey….

At about 8:45 a.m., a group of Swiss Guards went up the steps of the square and, with great dignity and respect, stood in front of the central door of the Basilica. The bells began to ring… What a feeling of emptiness! We could see the ceremony which was taking place in Santa Marta on the screens in the Plaza and we were able to follow it all with the booklet that was given to us when we entered. Soon the procession appeared, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, religious men and women, Vatican personnel… and the very simple coffin made of light wood of Pope Francis was carried on their shoulders by some of those who have been close to him during his pontificate.

Around 10:00 am, the celebration ended. Although it was not possible to enter the basilica until 11:00 am. I was one of the first group to enter, they let us stand before the Pope, and I was able to take some pictures. I prayed several Our Fathers before him… I had some intentions to pray for, names, situations… I was very much moved; I was in tears… I left the basilica with a deep feeling of gratitude.

On Saturday I would like to go to the funeral, if I go, I will certainly keep you all in my thoughts.

Clara Echarte, Hijas de Jesus

Pope Francis