A group of around 40 poor individuals, prisoners, transgender individuals, homeless people, and migrants will accompany Pope Francis’ coffin up until moments before his burial. These individuals in need will be present on the steps leading to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the location chosen by the Pontiff for his burial, to bid him their final farewell, as reported by the Vatican.
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With this gesture, the Holy See has reminded of Pope Francis’ closeness to those in need. “The poor have a special place in God’s heart. They also have a place in the heart and teachings of the Holy Father, who chose the name Francis to never forget them,” the Vatican has stated.
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The Pontiff expressed his wish that his mortal remains be buried in that basilica, outside of the Vatican, due to his “great devotion,” and that they be placed in a grave “in the ground” without decoration and with the sole inscription of “Franciscus.”
Each one will have a white rose in their hand. There will be about forty of them, all arranged on the morning of Saturday, April 26 on the steps of Santa Maria Maggiore. The poor, the homeless, the prisoners, the transgender individuals, the migrants will say “goodbye,” but above all “thank you” to a Pope who for many of them was like a “father.”
For them, the “last ones” of society, this time it will be a privilege to be the last ones. The last ones to say goodbye to Francisco before the coffin is buried between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Liberian Basilica, as desired by the Pope, after the funeral in St. Peter’s Square.
The news was announced in a statement from the Holy See, which emphasizes that “the poor have a privileged place in the heart of God,” as well as “in the heart and teaching of the Holy Father, who chose the name Francis to never forget them.”
Benoni Ambarus, ‘Don Ben’, secretary of the CIS Commission for Migrations and delegate for the charity sector, was on December 26 by Francisco’s side in one of the most symbolic gestures of the pontificate: the opening of the Holy Door at the Rebibbia prison.
Ambarus is moved when thinking about that day, even more so in these days when it is still difficult to process the death of Pope Francis: “I find it a touching decision, because Pope Francis is welcomed by the Mother he loved so much (Salus Populi Romani, ed.) and by his beloved children, who will accompany him in these final steps. I find it truly beautiful.”
The idea was born after a contact between Ambarus himself and the master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, to “try to value the presence of the poor at funerals in some way.” Later, a representation of the various categories of fragile, poor people was chosen, including homeless people, migrants, prisoners or former prisoners, and poor families. Ideally, it is as if all their loved ones accompanied them in their final steps.
There will be about 40 people on the steps of the Papal Basilica. “There was also a small representation of transgender individuals that I know, who we follow, from a small community of nuns who live with these transgender individuals,” explains ‘Don Ben’.
“They have very nice stories. One in particular, when we met even before Christmas, had just signed her first job contract with the help of the Diocesan Caritas of Rome. She was extremely excited,” she adds.
So many “stories” of many people who, among other things, have had the opportunity to meet Francisco in these years. Among the prisoners are, for example, those from Rebibbia, but there are also immigrants or homeless people.
“Surely almost everyone has had the opportunity to meet him at least once,” explains the bishop. And, always with the memory of Rebibbia, he explains that the greatness of the Pope’s decision to turn a penitentiary into a “cathedral” for a day remains. At the same time, it was “an emptiness” for those who participated.
These needy people will not only greet you, but also thank you. “They will welcome you with a white rose, everyone, and with the gesture of the white rose, it is a way of saying welcome home, because you will go to the Father’s House, and it is a rose to say thank you for what you have done for us. It is the children who greet the father,” concludes ‘Don Ben’.