By Paddy Walsh
A DONEGAL born nun played a key role in RTÉ television’s coverage of the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday.
Sister Mary Barron, who hails from Manorcunningham, was appointed by the late Pontiff as a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization two years ago.
She and Rome based cleric, Fr. Gerry Whelan, were interviewed at length by R.T.E. news front man, David McCullagh, during the proceedings.
And she praised the Pope for his commitment to the marginalised and the poor and to those living in war torn zones.
The Galdonagh woman quoted the late Pontiff who had indicated they were now “fighting a Third World War piece meal”.
“There are so many other wars that we don’t hear hear about in the media often.
“All our prayers will be that hearts are touched so that peace can be found where war is a reality,” Sr Mary voiced the hope.
“Out own President spoke about the need for the message for peace to touch all of us who are attending this funeral liturgy.”
Pointing to the Pope’s connections with people, she told viewers:
“When he met someone, he saw this human being in front of him and, of course, he had a special love for those who are suffering most.
“When you were with him he had all the time in the world for you. He gave you as much time as you needed,” Sr Mary reflected on her meetings with the Pope.
Pope Francis was able to connect at the same level as everyone else.
Sr Mary, who is also Congregational leader of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles in Rome, revealed that the Pope had always invited stories from the Mission fields and wanted to hear them directly, good and bad. “He wanted to be able to be a voice and walk with those who are most vulnerable.”
The Pontiff had also a strong commitment to the issue of migrants and climate change.
On the Pope’s wishes to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Sr Mary said a special moment of the ceremony on Saturday was that so many people lined the streets to bid a fond farewell to the Pontiff.
It was the first time since 1903 for a Pope to be buried outside the Vatican .
“I queued for three hours on Wednesday with my community just to go in and pay respects and pray,” she declared.
On her own appointment as a member of the Dicastry for the Evangelization by the Pope that entitled her and other women to voting rights in the Synod, the Manorcunningham native said hopefully the move was irreversible.
“We can’t go back to the way it used to be done,” said Sr Mary who indicated the importance of it and the fact that women were now involved in key decision making decisions within the Vatican.
Related posts:
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)