He had surprised everyone yesterday when he appeared at the Loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square: “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” he said to those gathered for the Urbi et Orbi blessing. Even more surprising was when he later came down into the square to greet the faithful from the popemobile.

“It was his final act of love for his people,” says Ausilia, who is visiting Rome from Naples. When the announcement of the Pope’s death came this morning, she was at the Holy Door of St. John Lateran – one of the symbolic places of the Jubilee – and like many others, she is now at the Vatican to pay her final respects to Francis.

There are thousands of people, and it feels as if they all know each other: the memory of the Pope brings together the very “people” whom Francis always stood beside, uniting them in a great embrace.

Some cry, some pray, some smile as they recall when the Pope shook their hand or spoke a few comforting words. There is a sense of awe, sorrow, disbelief: many sad faces fill St. Peter’s Square.

“I’m here to honor one of the Popes who was closest to the poor. Francis did everything he could to always be present, even yesterday when he came down into the square to wish the faithful a Happy Easter,” says Antonino from Rome.

“Being here today, the day the Pope ascended to heaven, is truly special. He was always a guide, a remarkable man, and a source of pride for Argentina: coming from a country where most people live in poverty, his was a powerful message of humanity,” Agostina from Buenos Aires tells us.