Rome, April 26, 2025 — Over 250,000 people waka come St. Peter’s Square for Vatican to pay last respect to Pope Francis, di Papa wey show love, humble spirit, and change how Catholic Church dey waka.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re lead di funeral Mass. Tears, prayers and songs full everywhere as people from all corner of di world come say goodbye to di man wey fight for poor people and bring people together.
How People Take Say Bye-Bye to “The People’s Papa”
Papa Francis — wey real name na Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aires, Argentina — kpai on April 21, 2025 at 88 years because of stroke.
Im death mark di end of one kind era — one wey talk say Church must dey show mercy, action go pass mouth, and no division go dey.
For di funeral, everywhere full with people holding rosaries, flags and even Francis pictures. Choir dey sing Latin hymns wey spread sweet-sweet for everywhere.
TV screens dey show di Mass for all di overflow crowd wey reach outside Vatican gate.
Even for Death, Papa Francis Still Break Tradition
As e dey alive, Francis no dey too follow old way. Even for im burial, e no gree make dem do am like dem do for oda Popes.
Instead of bury am under St. Peter Basilica, dem carry am go Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica — one special place for am. Im coffin na simple wood box, no gold, no heavy wahala, only “Franciscus” dem write.
Na him last way to tell di world say, “Shepherd must smell like im sheep.”
Big Men and Ordinary People Pack Ground Together
Na all kinds of people jam for di burial:
- U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump come, stand together.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honour di Papa.
- French President Emmanuel Macron and King Felipe VI of Spain dey present.
- Muslim, Jewish and Orthodox Christian leaders also show face.
Migrants, homeless people, prisoners — people wey Papa Francis love — sit for front near di altar. E show say Francis heart big well-well.
Church Don Enter 9 Days of Prayer and Mourning
As dem bury am finish, Catholic Church don start “Novendiales” — na nine days of prayers and Mass for im soul.
All Catholic churches go hang black cloth and church bells go dey ring every evening till di mourning end.
Meanwhile, dem don dey prepare for Sistine Chapel to elect new Pope soon.
Wetin Papa Francis Go Mean Forever
For di funeral preaching, dem talk about wetin Francis leave behind:
- He fight for poor people make dem no suffer.
- He build bridge between Christians, Muslims, Jews and even people wey no get religion.
- He tell everybody say make we take care of Mother Earth for im 2015 letter “Laudato Si’”.
- He show love to LGBTQ+ people make Church no dey judge but dey care.
Social media and world leaders also dey pour tribute:
- UN boss António Guterres call am “moral compass for confused world.”
- Emmanuel Macron tweet say, “He be voice for di voiceless.”
- Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby say, “Francis na real giant among men of faith.”
For Argentina, im people gather for Plaza de Mayo do Mass to honor their “son wey never forget home.”
End of Journey but Beginning of New Hope
As night fall and Vatican bells dey cry, everybody sabi say Francis spirit no die with am.
E leave Church wey dey more open, more merciful, and world wey dey understand say service na true greatness.
Cardinal Re tell everybody: “Francis teach us say greatness na inside service.”
Di final clapping wey people clap ehn — e loud, full of love, and na real final goodbye to di humble Papa wey always dey walk with him people.
🕊️ Rest well Papa Francisco. Your light go still dey shine for everywhere.
