The morning of Saturday April 27th

All the roads parallel to St Peter’s had been locked down in the early hours of the morning of Pope Francis’ funeral. One of these roads is where we are staying, the Borgo Pio. So alongside the thousands of people who had waited patiently to access the square our roads, usually filled with people at restaurants or the many religious shops, were empty. An eerie stillness next to the busyness of the moment. Once the funeral began, and from the outside of the square, you could hear the applause building. Love pouring out for this man who has meant so much to so many. The emotions are overwhelming, I watched with quiet tears watching the Cardinals in their guard of honour as Pope Francis left the Basilica of St Peter for the final time. It feels we are intruding in intimate moments of death whilst at the same time being so welcome.

We moved outside the main thoroughfare to find space along the final procession. Lines of security begin to stand along the route. Our boy Michael, 5, was able to sit on a barrier at the edge of the road. We follow the progress of the funeral online and wait for that time when we will see Pope Francis one last time. We see black cars beginning to stream through the route as foreign leaders leave the funeral. But it’s the mini bus of clergy, vehicles full of cardinals, the wooden platform that was used to carry the body of Pope Francis out of the Basilica that pass us on their way to Mary Major that signals that the Holy Father is near. We begin to cheer and clap as we see the white of the Pope mobile – his final journey. Our final goodbye.

To me he is like a grandfather who has accompanied and nurtured my faith. The grief I feel is tangible and being in Rome is a gift that I’ll be forever thankful for. That we were already booked to be there for the Canonisation of Blessed Carlo to celebrate his life is providential. The words I’ve been blessed to hear from Pope Francis at World Youth Days rest with me – to swim against the time, to make a mark on the world, to rise like Mary and DO something for our beautiful Church and our brothers and sisters across the world.

So Pope Francis, our dear Papa Francesco, may the choirs of angels guide you home.

// Catherine McLoughlin works for the Diocese with a care for our ministry online.