Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, and while over 48,000 people visited his coffin in the first day, none left a mark like Sister Jeanningros. Their bond began over 40 years ago in Buenos Aires, rooted in shared missions to serve the forgotten — the poor, the sick, even circus performers.
Living in a modest caravan outside Rome, she visited him weekly, sometimes bringing guests from the streets, always welcomed without judgment. Though many assumed she broke protocol, the Vatican had quietly granted her special permission — a rare gesture for a rare connection. Her final visit wasn’t routine. It was a farewell grounded in love, not ceremony. And as her quiet goodbye circulates the world, it reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful farewells are felt, not spoken.