With faith in which Pope Francis has returned to the father’s abode and honoring his life and legacy, several Guatemalans They participated this Saturday, April 26 in the funeral of the Supreme Pontiffremembered for their work in favor of forgotten people.
The religious traveled to the Plaza de San Pedro, in the Vatican, to give the last goodbye to the Pontiff in their journey to the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, where he was buried.
One of them was the Guatemalan Walter Augusto Navarro, pastor in the city of Castel San Pietro Romano, who congregated in the Plaza de San Pedro to pay tribute to Pope Francis.
Exclusively for Press Libre, Navarro, who lives in Rome since 1994, explained that his experience in the funeral act was full of peace and solemnity, on a day in which thousands of people gathered in the streets of Rome to fire the Pontiff.
Navarro stressed that, when the coffin was exposed to the main altar, there was an air of thanks for his work and grieving for his prompt departure, which has impacted the Church at the universal level.
Upon remembering his legacy, the parish priest commented: “The Pope leaves many teachings in his sense of humor, in his ability to give time to each person with whom he spoke and in his opening to the children, allowing them to play or ask him questions without restrictions.”
The Guatemalan pastor visits Rome to fire Pope Francis. (Photo: Courtesy / Father Walter Navarro)
With gratitude, Navarro recounted an experience witnessed during a visit to a church in Rome, when Francisco was still bishop. On that occasion, a child asked him if his father, who was an atheist, could go to heaven. The little one explained that, although his father was not a believer, he took him to the Church, where he received catechism and first communion.
The Pope responded clearly: “Your dad is going to heaven, because he was a very good person from the moment he wanted you to know God,” Navarro recalled.
Walter Navarro also said that, about two months ago, he had the opportunity to participate in a private audience with Pope Francis, where they exchanged a few words and received a hug from him. During that meeting, the Pontiff asked them how they felt living in Italy and asked them to pray for him.
Audience where the Guatemalan pastor Walter Navarro lived with Pope Francis (Photo: Media Vatican)
After those experiences, seeing Pope Francis out in the Papamóvil, inside his coffin, was for Navarro a moment full of emotions found.
Another of those congregated in the farewell was Father Wilber González, originally from San Marcos, who currently resides in Valencia, Spain, where a doctorate in Canon Law is in. González traveled to Rome to participate in the funeral.
Father Wilber González congregated in the Vatican to say goodbye to Pope Francis at his funeral. (Photo: Courtesy / Father Walter Navarro)
Also present were Guatemalan religious of the Marta and María community, founded in Jalapa, who currently live in Rome and went to the Plaza de San Pedro to say goodbye to the Pontiff.
Nuns of the Marta and María community wave the flag of Guatemala at the funeral of Pope Francis. (Photo: Courtesy / Father Walter Navarro)