Leitrim priest attends Pope Francis's final mass

"Deeply moving," is how Fr. Gerry Comiskey from Newtownmanor described attending the last Mass of Pope Francis this Sunday.​

The North Leitrim priest was in Rome for a study programme at the Pontifical North American College the previous week and stayed in Vatican City to attend the Holy Week ceremonies.​

"I was privileged to be able to stay for the ceremonies on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and then most splendidly on Easter Sunday morning, I was present for the concelebrated Easter Mass at which Pope Francis made his final appearance," said Fr. Comiskey.​

"It was just indescribable, the joy of the atmosphere," says Fr. Comiskey, though he remarks that despite the delight felt at seeing him, there was significant concern for Pope Francis as his voice was weak as he spoke, and his physical frailty was clear to see.​

Alongside this, his determination to be present throughout the week radiated from him, says Fr. Comiskey.​

"He was very much aware of the complex nature of humanity, and he wanted to be always understanding and always compassionate, and in that respect, he was striving to emulate the values of Jesus Christ," he added.​

Pope Francis passed away in the early hours of Monday morning in Rome at the age of 88.​

"It's profoundly significant that God called him back to the Father's house, as they're saying here in Rome, just within 24 hours after we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus," says Fr. Comiskey.​

Catholics around the world are in mourning for the pope; in Rome, there is a mix of sadness and relief.​

"The universal Church is like an enormous family, and we know, of course, that when a death takes place in a family, there's sadness, sure, but sometimes the sadness can be tinged with relief, especially if the person is elderly and has struggled and has fought the good fight... There's sorrow, but there's also a certain rejoicing that his suffering is over and that God has called him home," he said.​

Pope Francis’s body will be on display for the public to pay their respects in St. Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday morning before his funeral Mass on Saturday at 10 a.m.​

"I'm somewhat lost for words to explain how privileged I feel to be here for these sacred liturgies that will now begin to say farewell to him," says Fr. Comiskey.​

In his final days, he met world leaders and also took the time to visit prisons, showing the "measure of the man."​

Fr. Comiskey, who met Francis in 2017, said that the pope brought the church forward during his papacy and no matter who he was with, he gave them respect and attention.​

"I noticed that for the few minutes I was there in his presence, I felt that I was the only one that mattered to him. I think that's an incredible gift for all of us human beings to be fully attentive to the person in our presence. And he remained with that."

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