Portugal Colonial - In Lourdes, Catholic pilgrims mourn the 'pope of the poor'

Several said it was significant, to them, that he passed away the day after celebrating Easter in St Peter's Square.

"It's a symbol that shows that something happens. When people say they can't choose the day they die, they're wrong," said Stephanie Vergano, a 43-year-old woman from Bordeaux.

"He did choose the day of his death," she said, referring to Easter Monday, when the faithful commemorate Jesus' resurrection.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is visited by millions of pilgrims every year, some of whom are sick and in hope of a miraculous cure.

"He fulfilled his calling until the end. He was able to participate in Easter mass before leaving," said Vergano's partner, Sebastien Louvet, outside the grotto where, according to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl living in great poverty.

"Francis is the last pope who has really left his mark on us," at a time when "many people are connected to religion as a mark of identity," Louvet said, pointing to "more and more adult baptisms".

- 'Eternal rest' -

A few meters away, an afternoon mass was held to evoke in several languages the meaning of "solidarity" and "mercy" conveyed by the late pontiff and pray for his "eternal rest with the Lord".

"We're in Lourdes, so we're even more in communion of prayer with all Christians around the world," said 43-year-old Anne-Claire Lapierre-Dumas.

"He was a man with a big heart. We're all touched by his death and the humility he showed right up to his last day. Yesterday he appeared in public, we could really see that he wasn't well, but he went to the end of his priesthood," she said.

For Helene Lozancic, "he was a great pope, the pope of the poor, a great Christian," said the 55-year-old, adding that his death was "a great loss for us".

"He tried to modernise the Church, which is not an easy task," she said.

- 'Our father' -

"It's a shock for everyone. We've lost something. He was our father. I can't find the words to express how I feel," said Jonathan Landet, 31, from Toulouse.

For Sandrine Terrier, 51, Francis "did everything right, up until the end".

"He remained humble and helped all the countries in need. He spoke beautiful words and believed in a better world," she said, smiling.

V.Dantas--PC