A quiet but tender moment pierced the formal rigor of Vatican protocol yesterday (April 23) when a nun stepped out of line—literally and figuratively—to remain beside Pope Francis’ coffin, lingering in silent farewell while others moved along.
The image of the elderly nun sobbing as she looked at the late pontiff one last time went viral, with many being both touched by and curious about the woman’s devotion to Francis.
Now, the identity behind the moving gesture has been identified, revealing a decades-long friendship forged in shared pain and transcending hierarchy and formality.
