Francis was a “pope among the people, with a heart open to all,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re during the ongoing homily.
“Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to the challenges of today, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings, and hopes of this era of globalization,” Re said, according to CNN.
“His gestures and efforts in favor of refugees and displaced persons are countless. His persistence in working on behalf of the poor was constant,” the cardinal continued, noting that Pope Francis’ first journey as pontiff was to Lampedusa, an Italian island in the Mediterranean that has long been a first port of call for those crossing from North Africa.
“In the face of the fierce wars of recent years, with their inhuman horrors, countless deaths and destruction, Pope Francis continually raised his voice for peace, calling for reason and inviting honest negotiations to find possible solutions. War, he said, results in the death of people and the destruction of homes, hospitals, and schools — always a worse pain than the world itself — a defeat for all,” Re added.
Vatican authorities say around 200,000 people have gathered for Pope Francis’ funeral.
In his final appearance, one day before his passing, Francis gave the traditional Easter blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica before joyful crowds.
