Crying nun who broke protocol

Sister Geneviève Jeanningros went viral after breaking Vatican protocol to mourn Pope Francis by his casket at St. Peter’s Basilica. The French nun, who shared a long-standing friendship with Francis dating back to 2005, was seen tearfully saying goodbye, clutching a tissue. Despite public access being restricted to male clergy, she was allowed private moments of grief without interruption. Geneviève, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, spoke fondly of Francis, calling him a “Father, friend, and brother,” and explained she cried not only for herself but for others who had asked her to represent them.

Geneviève and Francis had continued to meet regularly over the years, with their last encounter in July when she introduced him to Laura Esquibel, a trans woman. Although she initially spoke about her emotional farewell, Geneviève has since declined further interviews, saying the grief is too overwhelming. Meanwhile, over 250,000 mourners visited the late pope before his funeral, attended by leaders such as Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, Prince William, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.