Our reporter in Rome spoke with Flemish people who attended the last Easter mass of the pope: « It clearly didn’t go well. I saw it coming »

The empty plastic seats for the Sint-Pietersbasiliek are still there. They are silent witnesses of the festive moment last Sunday, on which Pope Francis appeared on the balcony and – although very weakened voice – expressed the traditional Easter blessing ‘Urbi et Orbi’. Chosen believers saw the memorable papal appearance from plastic seats. Around 35,000 others were entitled to Sint-Pietersplein. « Viva il dad », « Long live the pope, » they chanted.

Monday it was quiet on Sint-Pietersplein. Occasionally prayers or modestly sung. Or were the clocks sound like the sound of mourning. But often the falling water of the fountains on Sint-Pietersplein was the only thing that broke the silence in the Vatican.

« The difference with last year’s Easter mass was huge. Then I saw a rock star who exuberantly greeted the audience. Now it was quieter and everything went sereren »

Xander Cauwelier (24)

The balustrades, which, just like the plastic seats, remember a festive Easter, are used by believers to lean on. They fold their hands, close their eyes and pray. Some are nuns, but most are believing tourists who came to celebrate Easter in Rome. And now mourning. Some flutter their national flag. The Indians, the Bolivians and the Slovaks are present. And the Belgians.

Vlaming Xander Cauwelier (24) from Lier. He was one of the first. « When I received the news on my phone, we immediately went to the square. I stay with friends and their apartment is close to the Vatican. The people who were there did not yet realize what was going on. The press did flow and fed cameras. My friends and I thought the Vatican would give a speech or the clocks. It remained silent. »

No rock star

That was different on Sunday during the Easter mass. « I lived and studied last year in Rome and then followed the mass, » says Xander. “It was an experience and so I booked tickets for months in advance to be present now. The difference was huge. Last year I saw a rock star who greeted the audience exuberantly. The atmosphere was different then, with cheering people raised their seats. Now it was quieter and everything was serener. It was as if the pope was not giving up. And the micro was also weakened during the ride in the pausmobile.

The pope left the hospital a month earlier after five weeks and recovered from a double pneumonia. On Monday – during the first public rosary prayer under the leadership of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti – it was announced that the Pope finally died of a stroke and subsequent heart failure.

“There is nothing to notice from the festive spirit. The atmosphere has turned. On Easter Monday there are normal festivities, but everything was canceled”

Lena Cantella (20)

For student Lena Cantella (20) the news did come as a surprise. « My mom called me. I didn’t want to believe it. Hardly 24 hours before I had seen Francis. People sang: » The Pope lives!  » Although he looked particularly brittle.  » Lena is currently in the Italian capital on Erasmus for two months. She is religious and attended many celebrations last week. « There is nothing to be noticeable about that party. The atmosphere has turned. On Easter Monday there are normal festivities, but everything was canceled. » On Monday, De Hasseltse again went to Sint-Pietersplein. « Nuns and fathers gathered for praying. In addition, a lot of tourists also came carefully to take a look, but during the day it was not yet a crowd. »

World continues, not football

Hélène Reychler (47) also visited Sint-Pietersplein at 3 pm. For her around the corner. She has been living in Rome for 24 years and worked for fourteen years before the main house of the Jesuit order in Rome. « I expected a lot of people, but it was quiet during the day. I see streets that are deposited and more security. The preparations for the ceremony are being made. » Hélène wanted to visit to consider the death. « When the pope was elected, I was also there. His loss touched me. I was on the radio this morning, but missed the news. It was through a message from former colleagues that I heard his death. I switched on the television and all channels switched to special broadcasts. »

The four planned matches in first class were postponed. As a tribute to the Pope, who was a big football fan. The public broadcaster also did not plan advertising or entertainment programs for 24 hours. Large events were canceled.

« I am not religious, but I did tear away a tear during Easter mass. Due to the honest call for more peace »

Kristine Rombaut (24)

« Furthermore, the city is in its normal doing, » says Hélène. « The flags are half -mast, but everything is normal. At the death of the previous pope, it was an incredible overwhelming for days. People joined for 24 hours to bring a final greeting. At the moment I don’t feel that. »

Anke van Loock (24) from Dilbeek also describes that life in the capital continues. « It is very busy here in the tourist places, but you see little crying or praying people. » Anke is on vacation until Wednesday and almost coincidentally went to the Vatican on Sunday.

« When the pope was elected, I was there too. His loss touched me »

Hélène Reychler (47)

« My grandmother called me that the pope would give a speech. And since we were there anyway, I went by. There was a gigantic mass and we had to sit down for 45 minutes. We were at the back of the square. When the red curtains opened and the Pope came in sight, there was a lot of crochet and clapping. »

Kristine Rombaut (24) from Antwerp stood in the same crowd. “During his speech, I told my mum and sister that it is good that we still saw him. Because that next year a new pope would be sitting. I am not religious, but I did a tear during Easter mass. Due to the honest call for more peace. We were in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, but we had to be destroyed. are not surprised. ”