Roma, San Pedro, vigilia de oración Rome, St. Peter’s, prayer vigil Gebetswache auf dem Petersplatz in Rom Foto: Donnelly © 2005

ROME, Fr. Ludovico Tedeschi. Saturday night the Holy Father departed to the house of the Father. Pain, emotion, gratitude and faith fill our hears. We were praying the Holy Rosary in St. Peter's Square. The square was full. When we finished we were told to continue praying in silence. I was surprised that they did not ask us to leave silently as the night before. A few minutes later Archbishop Leonardo Sandri announced the death of the Holy Father.

The people with their eyes full of tears: youth, children, adults, religous. Many kneeled. We prayed "De profundis" with Cardinal Sodano and then there was an emotive silence. The only thing that could be hear was the running water of the fountains.

We place him in the hands of Mary

"The Holy Father has been taken to the house of the Father,", he is united with the Resurrected Christ, "we all feel like orphans..." Now with his prayer of intercession for us from heaven..." "We entrust him to Mary, our tender Mother".

Those were the comments filled with emotion before we began praying the Holy Rosary again. It is true, we felt like orphans and that the same time profoundly united to him. A man of God. A Pope who made us feel he loved each one of us, each country. A Pope who struggled for peace, for truth, for the freedom of the people. Incredibily close to the youth. It was impressive to see them cry like children in the square.

A Pope so close to our carisma. A Pope who will surely receive the title The Great. He entrusted us to Mary so many time now we also place him in her hands, so that she will make him "all hers", forever.

Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA