They came for the canonization of a millennial saint. They stayed for Pope Francis’ funeral

By VANESSA GERA VATICAN CITY AP Thousands of young people from around the world had come to Rome expecting to rejoice this weekend in the canonization of the first millennial saint during the Vatican s Holy Year They ended up bidding farewell to Pope Francis instead with their exuberance giving an uplifting tone to Saturday s otherwise somber funeral Related Articles From mightiest to humblest hundreds of thousands gather for Pope Francis funeral families plan protest at FBI headquarters after new video to air US-Iran nuclear talks signal progress next round in Europe Ukraine President Zelenskyy hails prospective historic outcome after Trump talks Trump expresses doubts Putin is willing to end the Ukraine war a day after saying a deal was close He perpetually declared you have to be joyful about life you have to live life in a similar way noted Marco Falchi who traveled from his home near Perugia with his wife and -year-old son He and his wife credit Francis with reviving their spirituality and they named their son Francesco after him The family is also devoted to the cause of sainthood for Carlo Acutis a young Italian who died in from leukemia and inspired faith in a great number of young Catholics They planned their trip to Rome around that The canonization of Acutis had been scheduled for Sunday during the first-ever Jubilee of Adolescents dedicated to teens It was suspended after Francis death on Monday Falchi was struck by the lack of deep mourning at the funeral for the pope and he is convinced Francis would have been pleased Especially since this was the jubilee for adolescents he certainly didn t want a day of mourning but he longed a day of gratification he announced I feel like I grew up with Francis There was a clear blue sky over St Peter s Square Specific people camped out the night before to get a good spot Multiple stood respectfully their hands folded as they followed the Mass on large screens Radio broadcasts in multiple languages added to the hum of humanity They applauded when Francis simple wooden coffin was moved outdoors Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful had planned their trips before the pope s death I bought my ticket for Carlo commented Reyes Arribas a -year-old from Valencia Spain And then suddenly Pope Francis died so I came to the funeral Faithful react during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Faithful pray during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Faithful listen to mass during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti A faithful reacts during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Faithful listen to mass during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Faithful receive communion during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti A view of the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Gregorio Borgia Pallbearers carry the coffin during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Markus Schreiber Faithful listen to mass during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Faithful gather during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino Faithful gather to follow the burial ceremony of Pope Francis at St Mary Major Basilica in Rome Saturday April AP Photo Luca Bruno Priests and faithful attend the mass during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Show Caption of Faithful react during the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter s Square at the Vatican Saturday April AP Photo Emilio Morenatti Expand She confessed that while she admired Francis she felt a closer affinity to his predecessors St John Paul II and Benedict XVI Her feelings for Acutis however are very strong She excitedly praised him as the first saint of young people because he was immersed in the technological world of the present day Even those who were disappointed by the suspended canonization were gratified that they could celebrate Francis loved by multiple for his humility and concern for the poor I feel like I grew up with Pope Francis explained Jessica Naranjo a -year-old from Austin Texas I felt very connected with him in the way he advocated for social justice and the context This was a big loss for me I m disappointed that I m here celebrating the pope s life instead of celebrating with the pope she commented Ana Kalen a -year-old medicinal pupil traveled to Rome for the Acutis canonization with a group from Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina The plans have changed but we are still so glad to be here for this historical moment Kalen noted a Bosnian flag draped over her shoulders We are sad about each death But we do believe that Pope Francis is in a better place Francis resonates with young Catholics After St John Paul II died in the mood was different The faithful made pilgrimages from his Polish homeland and elsewhere to mourn a towering figure of the th century in a spirit of deep sadness and loss Francis had a different style During his -year papacy he urged people to maintain a sense of humor and that spirit seemed to guide multiple participants Saturday Groups of young people filled St Peter s Square before the funeral Mass One from a parish in Cassano Magnago in the northern Italian province of Varese danced in circle and sang religious songs The pope s death during Easter season filled them with a sense of peace one teenager revealed It s a good sign reported -year-old Matteo Cozzi The death of a pope at Easter is a sign of hope