Houston pilgrims in Rome pivot from canonization to papal funeral

Deacon Gus Camacho of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and his group, totaling 15, prepared for the journey centered on the planned canonization of the first millennial teen saint marked by his devotion to the Eucharist, charity work, and love for the Catholic Church. However, the death of Pope Francis on April 21 caused the Vatican to delay the canonization.

“We heard the news just one day before we left for Rome that Pope Francis had died on Easter Monday, and the canonization would be postponed,” Deacon Camacho said.

He checked with his group and travel company, Nativity Pilgrimage, and the decision was made to continue to Italy. Departing Houston on April 22, they landed in Milan for their first portion of the trip, visiting Milan, Padua and Siena before heading to Rome to go through four Holy Doors as part of the Jubilee.

But the pilgrimage turned into a whirlwind with all the traffic streaming into Rome to grieve and pray for the Holy Father. The group was informed as they traveled to Rome that St. Peter Basilica, the Vatican Museum and the Basilica of Mary Major were closed starting April 26 for the pope’s funeral.

The group discussed how hundreds of thousands of people were expected at the public funeral and how several of their group were unable to walk for the required miles and stand for hours to attend the funeral.

“The decision was made by all that we would watch the funeral together from our hotel TV in the bar area,” Deacon Camacho said.

That strategy turned out to be a good idea. “Those who attended, although filled with a memory that would last a lifetime, told us that they could not see or hear the procession of the Mass very well,” he said.

The group did get reservations to visit the tomb of Pope Francis the following day at St. Mary Major Basilica, bypassing a general four-hour waiting line. But then their group was pushed aside by security guards. 

“That upset a lot of people, but then it was made clear what was happening.” He described, “The College of Cardinals, yes those who include our future pope, filed into the basilica to pay their respects to the deceased pontiff, and then they started praying their first Novena for him.”

So, the previously upset crowd realized they were receiving an unforgettable blessing. “To see so many of the Apostles of the Church all at one time caused tears in all our eyes,” Deacon Camacho said. But it also caused a frenzy of photography to capture the moment.

“We finally did get to see Pope Francis’ tomb, made for a simple servant of Jesus Christ and His Church, marked with a crucifix on the wall and his name Franciscus on the tombstone,” he said.

The Houston-area pilgrims wrapped up their visit by going through four Holy Doors, the fourth being the now-reopened Basilica of St. Peter. The pilgrims shared with the deacon how they were returning to the States with a renewed admiration for the Catholic Church and its rich history.

“We were able to join in prayer with and for the cardinals that the Holy Spirit guides them during the election of our future pope, Bishop of Rome, Holy Father, and the successor to the Chair of St. Peter,” Deacon Camacho said. †