Cardinal Américo Aguiar visited Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City on Tuesday to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who passed away yesterday at the age of 88, describing the experience as a “very painful moment”.
“Vatican, Casa Santa Marta. The promised embrace, from me, the people of Setúbal, all Portuguese, and Portugal, has been given”, wrote the Bishop of Setúbal in a post on the social network Facebook.
“This reunion with our beloved and already deeply missed Pope Francis, with his lifeless body, was very painful… but Christ Lives… Christ is Risen Alleluia Alleluia”, continued the youngest Portuguese cardinal, who will participate in the conclave to elect the new pope.
It should be noted that Américo Aguiar had numerous encounters with Francis in recent years, as part of organizing World Youth Day, which took place in Lisbon in 2023. It was also that year when Francis elevated him to cardinal.
Pope Francis’s body is currently in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where the pontiff resided. Vatican workers and members of the clergy are allowed to visit the location to pay their respects. Tomorrow, the body will be transported to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing by the faithful. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
