Sister’s Emotional Farewell at Pope’s Funeral

The news in Croatian

1. preminuti
   umrijeti, završiti život ↩︎
2. sahrana  (f.)
   ceremonija polaganja pokojnika u zemlju ↩︎
3. bazilika  (f.)
   velika crkva od posebnog značaja ↩︎
4. margina  (f.)
   rub ili granica nečega ↩︎
5. počast  (f.)
   povoditi se s poštovanjem prema nekome ili nečemu ↩︎
6. prisustvovati
   biti prisutan na događaju ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Who came to say goodbye to her friend at the funeral?

Question 2: What is Sister Genevieve Jeanningros known for?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
preminuti	die
sahrana  (f.)	funeral
bazilika  (f.)	basilica
margina  (f.)	margin
počast  (f.)	tribute
prisustvovati	attend

Read the full story

The solemn occasion of Pope Francis’ burial has brought a poignant moment remembered by many in St. Peter’s Basilica. Sister Genevieve Jeanningros, an 81-year-old nun and close companion of the late Pope, was permitted an exception to the rigid funeral protocol to pay her final respects. The French-Argentinian nun, known for her humble life serving the marginalized, was seen tearfully bidding farewell to her longtime friend.

Sister Genevieve, affectionately referred to by Pope Francis as “L’enfant terrible,” was allowed to the area reserved for high-ranking clergy. Alongside dignitaries such as cardinals and bishops, she mourned personally by the side of the Pope’s coffin, an experience highlighting over four decades of their friendship.

This relationship blossomed when Pope Francis, then Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. They bonded over their commitment to aiding the vulnerable, drawing from shared experiences during Argentina’s dictatorship. As a member of the Little Sisters of Jesus, Sister Genevieve has dedicated more than half a century to serving society’s fringes, focusing particularly on trans women and supporting this community around Ostia, Italy.

The funeral service is set amidst rigorous security measures due to the high number of mourners, with over 19,430 individuals paying their tributes within the first 12 hours of the coffin’s display. The Basilica will remain open around the clock to accommodate the waiting crowds, where the queue lines can extend to five hours long. Visitors include both grieving admirers and curious tourists, overseen by tightened security.

Leading the formal proceedings will be Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, with numerous worldwide dignitaries expected to attend, such as the Prince of Wales representing the British monarchy.

Alongside the personal farewell moments, the funeral occasions mark an administrative transition. Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Croatia, along with other clergy, is present in Rome, not only to attend the funeral but also to participate in the upcoming papal conclave. This conclave, where 135 eligible cardinals will select the new Pope, is scheduled to commence after May 6th. Cardinal Bozanić, having partaken in past conclaves resulting in the election of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, now prepares once again to influence the future leadership of the Catholic Church.

Sister Jeanningros’ emotional farewell encapsulates a touching human connection amidst a backdrop of global religious proceedings, serving as a testament to her and Pope Francis’ shared dedication to service and compassion.

Info: “Croatian Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Croatian”, a language school dedicated to teaching the Croatian language through a variety of online courses. You can explore our Croatian course offerings to find the right fit for your learning journey.