By Fr. OKHUELEIGBE OSEMHANTIE ?

Today, Saturday, April 26, 2025, is the much-talked-about funeral of Pope Francis, which kicked off in Rome at 10:00 a.m. ? equivalent to 9:00 a.m. Nigerian time.

In a stunningly exquisite yet strikingly humble farewell that has captivated the eyes and hearts of the world, the funeral of Pope Francis is being hailed as a majestic testament to the spiritual grandeur of simplicity. True to his pastoral heart and profound commitment to humility, the Holy Father orchestrated a departure that is both superbly dignified and a luminous reflection of his pontificate.

Breaking away from centuries of Vatican tradition, Pope Francis requested to be buried not in the crypts of St. Peter?s Basilica ? the traditional resting place for popes ? but in the Marian embrace of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. This tender choice, rooted in his profound devotion to Our Lady, symbolizes his lifelong reliance on grace over grandeur.

In a papal document that reads like a final homily, the late Pontiff laid out his desire for a simplified funeral. Gone were the catafalques and triple-nested coffins; gone too was the elaborate ritual of casket closure. What remained was the raw, unvarnished beauty of Christian dignity ? a liturgy not of monarchical excess, but of spiritual nobility.

Observers from every continent ? including heads of state, ecclesiastical dignitaries, and ordinary pilgrims ? are moved not by pomp, but by the serene majesty of a servant-leader who, even in death, placed the Gospel before grandeur. The atmosphere is not mournful, but contemplative ? a global prayer wrapped in silence, candlelight, and sacred song.

In life, Pope Francis was a shepherd of the margins; in death, he chose not a throne but a pew among the faithful. His final liturgical act was one of eloquent humility ? a page from the Gospel lived to its last punctuation.

This funeral has not only rewritten papal protocol but has set a golden, world-class precedent for ecclesiastical beauty without extravagance. The world has watched a pope die like a disciple ? and in doing so, has witnessed the sublime power of humility in full, majestic bloom.

Good night, Papa Francesco. The world will not forget the way you chose to go.

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