“A poor Church for the poor,” Pope Francis repeated. And those who knew him closely, like Sister Geneviève, know that he lived it until his last breath. On Friday, April 25, 2025, the heart of Catholicism stopped to pay homage to Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88. In St. Peter’s Basilica, under the solemnity of the Vatican and the gaze of the whole world, an unexpected scene broke protocol and became a symbol of the legacy left by the Argentine pontiff.
A woman dressed in blue, with a backpack over her shoulder, discreetly crossed the central aisle of the temple. She stopped in front of the coffin, wiped her tears with trembling dignity and remained there in silence. She was Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, a personal friend of the Pope, and her gesture went viral in the media all over the world.
Friendship that was born in the peripheries
Sister Geneviève is 81 years old and lives in a caravan in the seaside town of Ostia, just outside Rome.
Together with another nun, she dedicates her life to accompanying vulnerable communities: LGBTQ people, fairgoers, immigrants and the homeless.
Francisco liked to visit her without cameras, away from the institutional noise.
During his pontificate, the Pope made the “Church of the peripheries” a banner.
She visited Sister Geneviève on several occasions, validating her work and breaking down internal barriers.
“She represents the Gospel in action,” the pontiff reportedly said in a conversation with members of the Diocese of Rome.
Beyond protocol
The scene was broadcast live on Vatican News.
While cardinals and heads of state maintained ceremonial order, the figure of this nun contrasted by her humility. There was no pomp, only sorrow.
His presence was permitted by express authorization of Vatican officials, who recognized his closeness to the Pope.
Her gesture went viral in media around the world
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This gesture was not just an intimate tribute.
It was a reminder that spirituality is not reserved for altars, but flourishes in caravans, soup kitchens and dusty streets.
Inclusive church
Buzzy
Francis will be remembered as a leader who brought the Vatican closer to the forgotten.
His friendship with Sister Geneviève is a reflection of his pastoral vision:
Not to judge, not to exclude, to serve first those who suffer most. In his words, “time is superior to space, the whole is superior to the part”.
Catholic organizations in the U.S. – such as the Hispanic Ministry Resource Center and Catholic Charities – have highlighted how the Pope’s openness inspired new ministries for immigrants, farm workers and LGBTQ people in Hispanic communities.
For more information, visit QueOnnda.com.
