Shock and sadness to the Vatican. “We are all very surprised because yesterday was in Saint Peter Square.” Images from now from Vatican Video
“A great pope has left,” said Fabio Malvesi, still in shock, like many of the believers and tourists who gathered in Saint Peter Square from the announcement of Monday morning of Pope Francis, at the age of 88, writes AFP.
This months of Easter, extremely important religious holiday and public holiday in Italy, many inhabitants of Rome had planned to visit the Vatican.
“I was there by chance, I heard the news in a store, on the radio, it is a big pope who left, changed many things, broke barriers. He was a wonderful person, a simple person,” said Fabio Malvesi, 66, smoking a cigarette nervously.
Behind him, the television teams begin to install their rooms in the large market surrounded by the famous colonade of Bernini, dominated by the imposing silhouette of Saint Peter.
Further, the police officers discuss the security measures that will be taken to cope with the influx of believers.
Almost with tears in the eyes, Cristina Borsetto cannot refrain from making the connection between Pope Francis, chosen in 2013, and her youngest son, born exactly that year.
“It's a difficult time for us, Christians”
“It is a difficult time for us, the Christians, especially for our family, because it reminds me of the birth of my son,” explained this housewife, who came to Rome in Padua (northeast Italy) for the weekend dedicated to Easter holidays.
“He was a pope who was always extremely spontaneous and simple (…) represented God, the supreme authority of the Church, but it was not too far from the ordinary people,” she recalls.
When the bells began to beat at 10:35 (08:35 GMT) in all the churches in Rome, two couples of French tourists felt that they live “a historical moment”.
“The locals told us, and they were sad. We share their sadness, without being more religious,” said Pascale Girard, 57 years old.
“He was a pope close to people, maybe a little poorer. He was coming from Latin America and, from this point of view, he was in a strong contrast with Benedict (XVI, his German predecessor, no). We found a modern, modern pope,” she insists.
“We are all very surprised”
This year of Jubilee, a “holy year” organized every 25 years, pilgrims from all over the world go to Rome, and this Monday is no exception to the rule: thousands of Italians, South Americans and Philippines are heading to Saint Peter Square.
They are driven by volunteers wearing green clothes, like Royben Noris, who is difficult to hide their sadness.
“We are all very surprised because yesterday (Sunday) was in Saint Peter Square, he took the whole market tour without assistance or oxygen.”
“It was a great joy for everyone to see it again in Saint Peter Square,” said the 33 -year -old Venezuelan, who is too overwhelmed to continue talking.
