By Cécile Martin-Houlgatte

When you have the grace of living in the Holy Land, you never cease to be surprised by how everything related to the faith and the Church takes on an extraordinarily deep and vibrant meaning—especially ecclesial events. We are in the “Mother Church”!

Our community usually takes advantage of the first days of Easter to enjoy a time of fellowship and rest. This year, we had planned to spend them at the guesthouse of the Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel. But on the morning of Easter Monday, when we learned of the death of Pope Francis, we felt called to cancel our plans and remain in Jerusalem, united as an ecclesial family in the mourning and joy of the Christian resurrection.
From that moment, we began to live an unforgettable Christian experience in the Holy Land. What happened?

Funeral Mass for the Soul of Pope Francis at the Holy Sepulchre
In front of the Tomb of Christ stood a portrait of Pope Francis. Our Patriarch, Cardinal Pizzaballa, presided over the Mass. Many concelebrating priests were present, along with pastors of different Christian denominations, diplomats, faithful, and journalists from various media outlets. All were united in offering prayers of gratitude for Pope Francis and entrusting his soul to God.
And all this took place during the Octave of Easter, in the very place of the Resurrection—a moment of profound communion, where the mystery of death and eternal life was illuminated with inexpressible light and power.

Condolences
After the Mass, as a community of believers, we walked through the alleys of Christian Jerusalem until we reached the Patriarchate. There, the Patriarch received condolences from each person and community present. We had the opportunity to write a message and sign the book of condolences, which would later be sent to the Holy See. At another time, we were also able to visit the Nunciature and express our condolences to the Nuncio, as is customary on such occasions.

“Sending” of Our Patriarch to the Conclave
At the end of the condolences, someone informed us that we had the opportunity to pray with the Patriarch before his departure for the airport and the Conclave. He led a brief prayer in the chapel of the Patriarchate and encouraged us to unity and trust in the action of the Holy Spirit.
About fifty people gathered there, and we concluded with the singing of the Regina Caeli. It was to be his first Conclave, and someone even shouted, “Long live the Pope!”, prompting heartfelt laughter.

The Christian mourning for the Vicar of Christ in the Holy Land moved me deeply—first and foremost because of how it unfolded. I would never have imagined participating in the funeral Mass and offering condolences for our Good Shepherd, Pope Francis, in the very place of Christ’s Resurrection.
It also moved me because of the feelings it awakened: in myself and in the Christian community that lived through that day. I was touched to see how we journeyed through the process of mourning—from the gravity and sadness at the beginning of the funeral Mass, through the peace and joy of the Resurrection, to the hopeful joy of trusting in a God who cares for and loves His Church, watching over her now through a new Pope.