Beloved Nun Breaks Protocol to Say Emotional Goodbye to Pope Francis
In a deeply moving moment, Sister Genevieve Jeanningros—a French-Argentine nun and close friend of Pope Francis—was granted special permission to break protocol during the late pope’s public tribute.
The 81-year-old nun was seen praying and crying near the Pope’s casket, in a section typically reserved for high-ranking clergy like cardinals and bishops. Her presence there was a testament to their long-standing personal bond, and it touched the hearts of many who witnessed the moment.
Sister Genevieve has known Pope Francis since his days as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. A video of her tearful farewell, where she gently wipes away her tears with a tissue, has since gone viral.
Back in July, Pope Francis made a personal visit to Sister Genevieve in Ostia, a town near Rome, to honor her decades of humanitarian work. For more than 56 years, she has dedicated her life to helping those in need—especially transgender women living in poverty in the Ostia area.
A member of the Little Sisters of Jesus, Sister Genevieve built a strong, lasting friendship with Pope Francis based on shared values and mutual respect. Even after he became pope, she continued to visit him weekly—sometimes bringing homeless individuals or those living on the margins to meet him. He welcomed them warmly, often sharing a meal and offering financial help.
“She approached her friend just like she did every other Wednesday,” one observer wrote online. “But this time, she came to say goodbye—hoping they’ll meet again in the next life.”
Reflecting on the moment, Sister Genevieve said, “So many people asked me to take them with me to see the Pope. I cried for them too.”
Laura Esquibel, a transgender woman from Portugal who met Pope Francis through Sister Genevieve, shared: “I was the first trans woman to shake his hand. I’ve seen him seven times. We even had lunch together. I really liked him.”
More than 250,000 mourners paid their respects during Pope Francis’s three-day lying-in-state—a testament to the love and admiration he inspired around the world.
Share this story with your loved ones to honor the compassion and friendship that defined Pope Francis’s legacy.
— Bored Daddy
Love and Peace
