They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis' funeral
Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican바카라 게임 웹사이트s Holy Year. They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead, with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday's otherwise somber funeral.
바카라 게임 웹사이트He always said you have to be joyful about life, you have to live life in a similar way,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Marco Falchi, who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and 11-year-old son. He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality, and they named their son, Francesco, after him.
The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis, a young Italian who died in 2006 from leukemia and inspired faith in many young Catholics. They planned their trip to Rome around that.
The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents, dedicated to teens. It was suspended after Francis바카라 게임 웹사이트 death on Monday.
Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope, and he is convinced Francis would have been pleased. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents, he certainly didn바카라 게임 웹사이트t want a day of mourning but he wanted a day of joy,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he said.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I feel like I grew up with Francis바카라 게임 웹사이트
There was a clear blue sky over St. Peter바카라 게임 웹사이트s Square. Some people camped out the night before to get a good spot. Many stood respectfully, their hands folded, as they followed the Mass on large screens. Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity. They applauded when Francis바카라 게임 웹사이트 simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors.
Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the pope's death.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I bought my ticket for Carlo,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Reyes Arribas, a 23-year-old from Valencia, Spain. 바카라 게임 웹사이트And then suddenly Pope Francis died, so I came to the funeral.바카라 게임 웹사이트
She confessed that while she admired Francis, she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Her feelings for Acutis, however, are very strong. She excitedly praised him as 바카라 게임 웹사이트the first saint of young people바카라 게임 웹사이트 because he was immersed in the technological world of today.
Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis, loved by many for his humility and concern for the poor.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I feel like I grew up with Pope Francis,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Jessica Naranjo, a 27-year-old from Austin, Texas. 바카라 게임 웹사이트I felt very connected with him in the way he advocated for social justice and the environment. This was a big loss for me.바카라 게임 웹사이트
바카라 게임 웹사이트I바카라 게임 웹사이트m disappointed that I바카라 게임 웹사이트m here celebrating the pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s life instead of celebrating with the pope," she said.
Ana Kalen, a 22-year-old medical student, traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
바카라 게임 웹사이트The plans have changed, but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Kalen said, a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders. 바카라 게임 웹사이트We are sad about each death. But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Francis resonates with young Catholics
After St. John Paul II died in 2005, the mood was different. The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the 20th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss.
Francis had a different style. During his 12-year papacy, he urged people to maintain a sense of humor, and that spirit seemed to guide many participants Saturday.
Groups of young people filled St. Peter바카라 게임 웹사이트s Square before the funeral Mass. One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs.
Video below: Thousands gather in St. Peter바카라 게임 웹사이트s Square for funeral of Pope Francis
The pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace, one teenager said.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s a good sign,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said 16-year-old Matteo Cozzi. 바카라 게임 웹사이트The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope.바카라 게임 웹사이트
