Pope Francis – Experiencing extraordinary grace in Rome

By Shaiju Chacko

Rome, April 23, 2025: I was lucky to be in Rome as the Catholic Church prepared to bury Pope Francis.

I came to the eternal city as part of an extensive pilgrimage beginning in Rome and unfolding through sacred destinations such as Medjugorje, Lourdes, Fatima, Avila, and more.

Our team comprised Father Jose Vadakkel and 49 other discerning pilgrims.

Each place on our itinerary carried the promise of prayer, reflection, and grace. Yet, none of us anticipated how the journey would begin—with profound loss and unexpected divine encounters.

Before our departure, we were informed that a Papal audience at the Vatican would not be possible due to the Holy Father’s declining health. Though we accepted this with quiet resignation, we did not foresee the emotional tide that would await us upon arrival in Italy.

Soon after reaching Rome, we received the heartbreaking news of the Holy Father’s passing. Grief and uncertainty filled the air. With the Vatican preparing for his funeral, we were unsure how our schedule would unfold or whether we would be permitted to visit any of the significant religious sites.

What followed over the next two days, however, can only be described as miraculous.

On April 22 – our second day in Rome – we had the unexpected grace of celebrating Mass at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Maria Maggiore), a place closely associated with Pope Francis.

As we gathered around the altar, we were deeply aware that this basilica would soon be the resting place of his mortal remains. The Mass became a sacred farewell, filled with silent reverence and gratitude.

Following the Eucharist, I stepped away from the group to join my sister, Sister Carmen, for a quiet lunch at their provincial house. As we dined, a phone call arrived—one that would become a turning point.

A sister had been informed that the mortal remains of the Pope would be accessible for viewing at Casa Santa Marta, the residence of the Pope, and that entry was being permitted for priests and religious with special passes.

We wasted no time. Guided by providence and helped by what I can only describe as angels in disguise, we made our way to the entrance. After nearly an hour of waiting, we were ushered in.

There, in the quiet solemnity of the room, we stood a few feet away from the Holy Father—his peaceful face bearing the traces of grace and humility that marked his life.

For one minute, in silence, I stood beside my sister, her superior general, and two other sisters, offering a prayer of thanksgiving for the life and legacy of Pope Francis.

That moment will forever remain etched in my memory—an encounter with holiness, a farewell soaked in gratitude, and a powerful reminder that grace often finds us in the most unexpected of ways.

That evening, I rejoined our pilgrims and shared the extraordinary grace we had received. Yet the story was not over. A collective longing stirred among us—to witness the transfer of the Pope’s coffin from Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Though public viewing was slated to begin at 11 am, our guide, Boby Joseph of The Travel Company, leveraged his Vatican contacts to secure our bus’s entry onto Vatican parking.

The next morning, we departed with packed breakfasts, anticipation dancing in our hearts. As we gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the hush was broken only by whispered prayers.

At 9 am, the bells tolled and psalms rose in song, heralding the procession. Draped columns framed the slow, solemn passage of the coffin, granting thousands their final glimpse—and blessing—of our beloved Pope. Bells echoed, voices chanted, and soft applause rippled through the crowd as his journey reached its resting place at the Basilica’s feet.

In those moments—amid chants, bells, and the poignant hush of farewell—I saw anew how God’s surprises transform our lives. Though the papal audience we had hoped for never came, I was granted intimacy with the Holy Father’s final blessing that will forever illuminate my memories.

What unfolded in these three days in Rome was nothing short of extraordinary grace, a reminder that when we surrender our plans to God, He crafts a narrative far more magnificent than we ever could have envisioned.

(Father Shaiju Chacko serves Jammu-Srinagar diocese in India)