Nun allowed to break protocol to mourn Pope Francis, her friend of decades

NBC ^ | 4/25/25 | NBC Staff

[DallasBiff]

A French nun who traveled to say goodbye to Pope Francis in the Vatican this week was allowed to break church protocol.

The 81-year-old Sister Genevieve Jeanningros had a close, four-decade-long friendship with the late pope. In video taken of mourners at St. Peter's Basilica, Jeanningros can be seen standing in area traditionally reserved for cardinals, bishops and priests — positions held only by men.

In the video she can be seen praying near the pope's coffin for several minutes before saying her final goodbyes.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Yeah - I mean, I get it.

But a lot of monogamously happily married men turn out to be unfaithful and sometimes outright creeps. Ravi Zacharias comes to mind.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Ravi Zacharias comes to mind.”

What a horrible mess that was!

[higgmeister]

The only reason I asked for clarification is that anyone who denies the celibacy of Jesus, is not a Christian.   I am not Catholic but the ugliness of that blasphemy is difficult to comprehend.

Now my Methodist upbring may be showing through with it's split from the Church of England and of course its split from the Roman Catholic Church.