The nun who made headlines for breaking protocol to grieve at Pope Francis’ coffin has now spoken publicly about the emotional moment.
Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, a longtime friend of the late Pope, was among millions of Catholics mourning Francis’ death. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years before passing away at age 88 on Easter Monday (April 21) following a stroke.
Elected pope in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Francis’ leadership was marked by a focus on inclusion, a value that deeply connected him with Sister Geneviève.
Their friendship dates back to 2005, when Geneviève traveled to Buenos Aires for the reburial of her aunt, Leonie Duquet, a nun who had died during Argentina’s dictatorship in the 1970s. Then-Archbishop Bergoglio had approved the reburial, and the encounter sparked a bond that would last nearly two decades.
Geneviève, who has been a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, formed a close relationship with Francis. Over the years, she and a group of LGBTQ+ members would meet weekly with him. As recently as last July, Francis traveled to Ostia to visit his 81-year-old friend.
On Wednesday (April 23), as Francis lay in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, Sister Geneviève approached his casket to say a personal goodbye — despite Vatican protocol limiting access to male clergy only.
Clutching a tissue, the nun wiped away tears as she stood near the coffin in a moment that quickly went viral. According to NBC News, no one intervened, allowing her a few private moments of mourning.
Speaking to Noticias Telemundo on Friday (April 25) at the Vatican, Geneviève described Francis as “a father, a friend, and a brother.” She also revealed that she had been visiting to pay her respects every day, not just during the widely shared moment.
“Many people told me: when you go to see the Pope, take us with you,” she told the Vatican press service. “I cried for them too.”
Geneviève also recounted her last visit with Francis, when she brought Laura Esquibel, a transgender woman from Paraguay. “I was the first trans woman to shake his hand,” Laura said. “I’ve seen him seven times; we had lunch together. I liked him a lot.”
Since the funeral, Sister Geneviève has declined further interviews, explaining that the grief is overwhelming. “No, I can’t. I don’t want to talk to anyone, I’m sorry,” she said, according to GI. “I can’t because it’s too much, you know? I liked him a lot, that’s it.”