White-gloved pallbearers carried Pope Francis’ coffin out into St. Peter’s Square at the start of the funeral mass. But who were they?
White-gloved pallbearers carried Pope Francis’ coffin out into St. Peter’s Square at the start of the funeral mass. But who were they?
White-gloved pallbearers carried Pope Francis’ coffin out into St. Peter’s Square at the start of the funeral mass. But who were they?
WASHINGTON — Some 250,000 mourners, including world leaders and Catholic faithful, packed St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
Pallbearers carried Francis’ simple wooden coffin down the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica and out into the square at the start of the funeral mass. After the funeral mass ended, the crowd in St. Peters applauded as the white-gloved pallbearers lifted the pope’s coffin back inside the basilica.
The pope’s coffin made its way across Rome following the procession on the popemobile. Pope Francis’ coffin was met by bishops and top cardinals in St. Mary Major Basilica, where he will be buried in a private ceremony later Saturday.
The pallbearers were part of what’s called the Papal Gentlemen.
“They would help him around and help him with visitors and now they’re helping him to his final resting place,” Father James Martin S.J., Editor at Large of “America Magazine,” explained during ABC’s broadcast of the funeral.
According to UCatholic, the Gentlemen of his Holiness are a group of about 150 “gentlemen” who serve a key role in welcoming and escorting dignitaries who visit the Vatican. Often times they are “the first faces many see when visiting the Pope’s residence,” the blog says.
The men are part of the pope’s inner circle and are present during key events. However, the men also have the duty of acting as pallbearers during a pope’s funeral.
“The various Authorities and other personalities who visit the See of Peter experience their first contact with this House and receive their first impressions through you, dear Gentlemen,” Pope Francis once remarked while emphasizing essential role of the men, according to UCatholic.
“Sort of [the pope’s] inner most helpers,” Father James Martin S.J. described. “When you went to visit him those are the people you would see closest to his office.”
“Quite powerful,” he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.