In all the ceremonies and commemorative speeches following the death of Pope Francis, as well as in the preparatory meetings for the conclave, not a single female face was to be seen. This presented clear evidence that the pontiff did not bring about any significant change concerning the role of women in the Church.

The same can be said about the organization of his funeral, which, according to his wishes, should have been modest, like that of a shepherd and not a great man of this world. The pope seemed to confuse power and sacredness, which are not synonymous. Fortunately, his interventions remained limited and the ancient sacredness persisted, in the use of Latin, in the gestures and the attire of the prelates. The elegance of the cardinals, like that of the Swiss Guards with their beautiful Renaissance uniforms, is not the same as the elegance of those who cherish expensive designer clothes. What this beauty – today perceived only through the lens of luxury – is supposed to represent is nothing less than the symbolic representation of ancient rituals in honor of the Church.

It must be admitted that even if Pope Francis was very beloved and popular, without the Latin rite with parts in Greek and Arabic, without the chanting of psalms and the invocation "May the angels lead you into paradise," his funeral would not have so deeply moved the immense crowd gathered in Saint Peter's Square and all those who watched the ceremony on television. As always, the power of a rich and profound tradition clearly surpassed the modesty of the human beings who represent it. More than a mere diplomatic contact, the meeting between [American and Ukrainian presidents] Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, seated on small chairs in the immense basilica, appeared as a genuine solemn call for the construction of peace.

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