Remembering Pope Francis: Reflections from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Reported by CBS News
Recollections of Pope Francis depict him as a leader deeply connected with the people, a shepherd who effectively communicated with those often overlooked by society, spoken of during the Saturday service.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, a seasoned leader at 91 and head of the College of Cardinals, delivered a poignant and personal homily at the Vatican ceremony.
"He was indeed a pontiff of the masses, extending his heart generously to everyone," Cardinal Re noted. He received applause from those gathered outside St. Peter's Basilica, especially as he described Francis' enduring concern for refugees, exemplified by his Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border and his impactful visit to Lesbos, Greece, where he accompanied 12 migrants back home.
Cardinal Re continued, "A fundamental belief driving his service was that the church should be a sanctuary for all, with doors that never close."
On the Monday following Easter, April 21, Pope Francis will be interred at Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore). He will rest in a modest tomb below ground, simply marked with the name: Franciscus.
Complete Homily Text by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Here is the translated version of the homily that Cardinal Re delivered during Pope Francis' memorial service:
Full text courtesy of the CBCP News Service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
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