Pope Francis was remembered as a Pope, a pastor who was able to communicate with the “least among us” during Homel on his funeral Saturday.
Cardinal Giovanni Batista Re, 91-year-old Dean of the Cardinals College, made a long and very personal sermon during the Vatican service.
“He was the Pope among the people, with an open heart to everyone,” Re. He attracted the applause of the crowd gathered near St. Peter's Basilica when he talked about Francis' constant concern about migrants, including when he celebrated Mass at the US-Mexico border and went to the refugee camp, Greece, and brought 12 migrants.
“The ruling thread of his mission was also the conviction that the church is a house for everyone, the house with the door is always open,” Ra.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images 
Francis died at the age of 88 On Monday, April 21, the day after the Easter Sunday. It will be laid to rest in the Basilica of Major St. Mary (Santa Magori Maggiore) in Rome, where a simple underground grave awaits him, according to reports His wishes – With his name: Francis.
Read the full text of Cardinal Giovanni Batista by Homily
This is a translated text of the sermon given by the Cardinal Rea during the burial of Pope Francis:
In this majestic Square of St. Peter, where Pope Francis celebrated the Eucharist so many times and presided over the great meetings over the last twelve years, we have gathered with sad hearts in prayer around his deadly remains. However, we support the certainty of faith, which assures us that human existence does not end in the grave, but in the house of the father, in the life of happiness that does not know the end.
On behalf of the Cardinals College I warmly thank you all for your presence. With deep emotions, I expand respectful greetings and sincere thanks to the heads of state, heads of government and official delegations who came from many countries to express their commitment, veneration and respect for our late Holy Father.
Finding out the commitment we witnessed in recent days after his transition from this earth to eternity, tells how deep the pontificate of Pope Francis touched upon the mind and heart.
The final image we have about it, which will remain in our memory, is last Sunday, Easter on Sunday, when Pope Francis, despite serious health problems, wanted to give us his Blessing Basilica St. Peter. He then went down to this square to say hello to a large crowd gathered on the Easter mass, going out at the open top of Popemobile.
With our prayers, we will now trust our beloved Pontiff's soul so that He can give Him eternal happiness in a vivid and glorious look of his huge love.
We are enlightened and guided by the gospel excerpts, in which the sound of Christ's voice sounded, asking the first of the apostles: “Peter, do you love me more than that?” Peter's answer was fast and sincere: “Lord you know everything; you know what I love you!” Then Jesus instructed him a great mission: “Feed my sheep.” This will be the constant task of Peter and its
The successors, the ministry of love in the footsteps of Christ, our teacher and the Lord who “came not to serve, but serve, and give him a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).
Despite his delusions and suffering to the end, Pope Francis decided to follow this path to the last day of his earthly life. He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, a good shepherd who loved sheep before giving his life for them. And he did it with force and tranquility, not far from his herd, the Church of God, remembering the words of Jesus, quoted by the apostle Paul: “It is more blessed than receiving” (Acts 20:35).
When Cardinal Bergolio was elected on March 13, 2013 to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, he had already had many years of experience in the religious life in the society of Jesus, and, above all, was enriched for twenty years of pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Buena-Ers.
The decision to make the name of Francis immediately showed the pastoral plan and style, on which he wanted to establish his pontificate, seeking inspiration in the Holy Spirit.
He retained his temperament and form of the pastoral leadership, and thanks to his decisive person, he immediately made his mark in the rule of the church. He has established direct contact with people and peoples, trying to be close to all, noticeably attention to those who have difficulties, giving himself without a measure, especially to the marginalized, least among us. He
was the Pope among the people with an open heart to all. He was also the Pope attentive to the signs of the time and the Holy Spirit awakened in the church.
With its characteristic vocabulary and language, rich images and metaphors, he always sought to illuminate the problems of our time with the wisdom of the Gospel. He did this by offering the response that is guided by the light of faith, and calling us to live as Christians against the backdrop of the problems and contradictions in recent years, which he liked to describe as a “landmark change”. He had a great spontaneity and an informal way to solve all, even those far from the church.
Pope Francis really shared anxiety, suffering and hopes at this time of globalization. He gave himself himself, comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching the hearts of people directly and directly.
His charisma of greeting and listening in combination with the manner of behavior in accordance with today's sensitivity, touched hearts and sought to arouse moral and spiritual feelings. Evangelization was the governing principle of its pontificate. With a clear missionary vision, he spread the joy of the Gospel, which was the name of his first apostolic persuasion, the Guadium Gospel. It is a joy that fills the hearts of all those who trust in God with confidence and hope.
The ruling thread of his mission was also the conviction that the church is a house for everyone, the house with the door is always open. He often used the image of the church as a “field hospital” after the battle in which many were injured; The church that decided to take care of people's problems and great anxiety that breaks the modern world; A church capable of flexing each person, regardless of their beliefs and states, and healing their wounds.
His gestures and persuades for the benefit of refugees and displaced people are countless. His persistence in work on behalf of the poor was constant.
It is important that Pope Francis' first journey was in Lampedus, an island that symbolizes the tragedy of emigration, and thousands of people drowned into the sea. In the same direction was his trip to Lesbos, along with the Ecumenical Patriarch and Archbishop Athens, as well as the mass celebration between Mexico and the United States while traveling to Mexico.
Of its 47 difficult apostolic travels, Iraq in 2021, without giving up every risk, will remain especially memorable. This complex apostolic journey was a balm on the open wounds of the Iraqi people, which was so much affected by the inhuman actions of ISIS. It was also an important trip for inter -religious dialogue, another significant dimension of pastoral work. With his apostolic journey to Asia-Akenia in 2024, the Pope reached the “peripheral periphery of the world”.
Pope Francis always posted the Gospel of Mercy in the center, repeating that God never tires us apologies. He always forgives, regardless of the situation that can be a person who apologizes and returns to the right way.
He called for an unusual anniversary of mercy to emphasize that mercy is the “heart of the gospel”.
Mercy and joy of the Gospel are two keywords for Pope Francis.
Unlike what he called “waste culture”, he spoke of the culture of meetings and solidarity. The theme of the brotherhood went through all its pontificate with bright tones. In his encyclical letter, Fratel Tututa, he wanted to revive all over the world the pursuit of brotherhood because we are all children of one father in heaven. He often forcibly reminded us that we all belong to one human family.
In 2019, during a trip to the United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis signed a document on the Brotherhood of Human Peace and Joint Life, reminiscent of the overall paternity of God. Addressing men and women all over the world, in his encyclical Ladat SI, he drew attention to our duties and shared responsibility for our common home, saying: “Nobody is rescued alone.”
Faced with raging wars of recent years, with his inhuman horrors and countless deaths and destruction, Pope Francis constantly raised his voice, calling for peace and calling for mind and honest talks to find possible decisions. According to him, the war leads to the death of people and the destruction of houses, hospitals and schools. The war always leaves the world worse than it used to: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone.
“Building bridges, not walls,” he repeated many times, and his faith as the successor of the Apostle Peter was always associated with the service of mankind in all its aspects. Spiritually united with all Christianity, we are here in large numbers to pray for Pope Francis so that God can welcome Him in the infinity of his love.
Pope Francis completed his speeches and meetings, saying, “Don't forget to pray for me.”
Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the church, bless Rome and bless the world from heaven, as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in the last arms with all the peoples of God, but also accept humanity looking for the truth with a sincere heart and has a high torch of hope.
. The full text that has released the CBCP News at the Philippine Conference.