ALONG with millions around the world, I watched the funeral of Pope Francis with a lump in my throat.
I was fortunate enough to meet the Pope twice, in 2014 and 2017, and so I said a prayer for him.
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I was immediately struck by his humility – and that’s why his funeral was such a fitting send-off.
On the one hand it was a moment of history, and it was visually awe-inspiring in its scale and grandeur – a photographer’s dream.
Yet, it also reflected that the 88-year-old Pontiff was a man of the people, with 250,000 mourners in St Peter’s Square paying their respects.
That was shown in his choice of becoming the first Pope not to be buried at the Vatican in 100 years.
READ MORE ON POPE’S FUNERAL
Instead he chose Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
It was there he was ushered in by a group of prisoners and migrants.
Just as when I met him, there was a sense of grace, and a fearless break with convention.
He did it his way.
I hope the Conclave pick a new Pope to replace him who is as humble as the Holy Father they buried today.
Who will be the next Pope?
FOLLOWING the death of Pope Francis on the morning of Easter Monday, attention turns to the question of his successor.
Francis led the Catholic church for 12 years, right up until his death at 88 – as is tradition.
After the nine days of mourning have been observed – during which time Francis will be buried – the papal conclave will begin in order to select a successor.
All 252 cardinals from around the world will travel to Rome for the secret ballot, in which a maximum of 115 can vote.
When a candidate has two-thirds of the vote, they will be appointed Pope through a pontifical coronation.
Here are some of the front-runners:
- Cardinal Luis Tagle
- Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin
- Cardinal Wim Ejik
- Cardinal Raymond Burke
- Cardinal Peter Erdo
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
- Cardinal Mario Grech
