After Pope Francis’ death, one image stood out: Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, a longtime friend, quietly stepping past Vatican protocol to grieve by his coffin. Their bond began in 2005 when Francis, then Archbishop Bergoglio, helped her rebury her aunt, a nun who disappeared during Argentina’s dictatorship.
As Pope, he remained close to her, supporting her LGBTQ+ advocacy and visiting her in failing health just months before his death. Sister Geneviève described him as “a father, a friend, and a brother” and returned daily to his coffin, grieving on behalf of others. Since the funeral, Geneviève has stepped away from the public eye. “I liked him a lot, that’s it,” she said. In a sea of mourners, it was her quiet tribute that truly captured the tender, radical, and deeply human legacy of Pope Francis
