Mourners gather at Santa Marta to bid farewell to Pope Francis

Vatican staff, dignitaries, and residents pay tribute to Pope Francis ahead of public viewing at St Peter’s Basilica.

A nun waits in St. Peter's Square for the rosary prayers in honor of Pope Francis on April 22, 2025, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Vatican entered a somber period of mourning on Tuesday as mourners gathered at Santa Marta to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. The chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where the pontiff chose to live during his decade-long papacy and where he ultimately died, became the setting for a poignant farewell attended by those closest to the late pope.

The first to pay their respects were members of the Vatican community—religious leaders, lay employees, and dignitaries—granted access to the private chapel where Francis’ simple wooden coffin lay surrounded by Swiss Guards. It was a setting marked not by grandeur, but by the humility and human closeness that defined the late pope’s papacy.

A moment of personal reflection for the Vatican community

Draped in red papal vestments, with a white mitre and black shoes, Pope Francis was laid in repose with rosary beads wrapped gently around his fingers. Mourners waited in silence in a marble-lined hallway before being ushered into the small air-conditioned chapel on the ground floor of Santa Marta.

The atmosphere, as described by one laywoman from Brazil who had worked closely with the pontiff through the Vatican’s communications dicastery, was one of contemplation and disbelief. “I followed him from his election to his final days. Santa Marta was his home, and in many ways, it became our home too,” she told AFP, requesting anonymity.

She described her emotions simply: “gratitude and the wish to embrace him one last time.”

Others present mirrored those sentiments. From senior bishops to everyday employees like firefighters and gardeners, those who came to mourn Pope Francis had all, in some way, been touched by his presence, his humility, and his decision to live among them rather than isolate himself in the Apostolic Palace.

Simplicity over splendor

From the beginning of his papacy in 2013, Pope Francis made it clear that he intended to redefine what it meant to be pope. Choosing to reside in the modest Santa Marta guesthouse instead of the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, he sought to break with centuries of tradition.

He regularly took his meals in the communal dining room, mingling with staff and fellow clergy without ceremony. That same simplicity marked the private farewell in the chapel—no cameras, no press, just quiet prayer and heartfelt farewells.

“It felt like a family gathering,” said a Vatican employee who came to pay his respects. “We weren’t just saying goodbye to a religious leader—we were saying goodbye to someone who shared our daily lives.”

Messages of sorrow and peace

The expressions of sorrow were interspersed with a palpable sense of peace. A Polish nun from Rome’s Umberto I hospital said that while tears flowed, especially among those who worked closely with Francis, there was also a spiritual calmness.

“He brought peace during his life, and even in death, I felt that same peace standing beside him,” she said.

The mourners who gathered at Santa Marta to bid farewell to Pope Francis came from diverse backgrounds but were united in their reverence for a man who redefined the papacy with compassion, humility, and accessibility.

A private moment before a public farewell

The Vatican announced that the late pontiff’s coffin would be moved to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday for a public lying-in-state. The chapel at Santa Marta, however, served as a more intimate setting—one where the people who had served beside him, cared for him, and respected him in life could offer their final prayers in private.

Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella was among the early mourners. His presence underscored the deep bond Pope Francis forged with both the Church and the broader civil society, not just within Italy but around the world.

A legacy of humility and presence

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapel at Santa Marta had become a symbol of global connection. As lockdowns swept the world, Francis led streamed Masses from the small chapel, offering comfort to millions of Catholics forced into isolation.

That same chapel became the center of mourning this week, as those who had once drawn strength from his broadcasts now came to stand in solemn tribute beside his coffin.

“I remember those mornings,” said a nun in her seventies who watched those live Masses from Argentina. “He made the world feel smaller, more connected, more compassionate.”

The final days

Pope Francis died in his 70-square-meter apartment on the second floor of the Santa Marta residence. The Vatican said he passed away peacefully on Monday morning, surrounded by close aides and medical personnel. While no official medical cause has yet been publicly disclosed, the Vatican confirmed that the pope had been suffering from multiple health issues in recent years, including recurring lung infections and chronic knee pain that had limited his mobility.

Throughout his later years, he continued to appear at public audiences and international events, often using a wheelchair but never withdrawing from his responsibilities.

His passing follows nearly 12 years as the head of the Catholic Church, marked by a reformist agenda, outspoken advocacy for the poor and marginalized, and efforts to steer the Church toward greater inclusivity and openness.

Public mourning to begin

The transfer of Pope Francis’ coffin to St Peter’s Basilica marks the beginning of official public mourning. The Vatican expects tens of thousands to gather in the coming days to pay their final respects to the 266th Bishop of Rome.

Security measures around Vatican City have been heightened, and a full schedule of events related to the funeral rites is expected to be released soon. Foreign dignitaries and heads of state from around the world are anticipated to attend.

Farewell to a people’s pope

As mourners gathered at Santa Marta to bid farewell to Pope Francis, the grief felt was both deeply personal and profoundly global. His death leaves a significant void in the Catholic Church and in the hearts of those who admired him—not just as a religious leader, but as a man who brought warmth, humility, and humanity to the world’s most ancient religious office.

And for those who waited in silence to kneel at his side, it was not just a goodbye—it was a final moment of connection with a pope who had lived and led among them.