editor
What was meant to be a moment of reverence and unity turned into one of pain and humiliation for a Black man who says he was stopped from attending Pope Francis’s open-casket farewell at St. Peter’s Basilica, not because of any security concern, but because of the color of his skin.
The man, who asked to remain unnamed, had traveled to Rome to join the thousands gathering to pay their last respects to the late pontiff. Standing in the crowd that wrapped around Vatican City, he waited patiently for hours, holding onto quiet prayers and memories of a spiritual leader who preached love, equality, and dignity for all.
But as he reached the security checkpoint near the entrance to the Basilica, something shifted.
“I had everything in order—my documents, my badge, everything,” he said. “But when it was my turn, the guards suddenly looked uneasy. They glanced at each other, then one of them stepped forward and simply said, ‘Not now.’ No explanation, no reason—just denial.”
He stepped aside in disbelief, watching others behind him, mostly white, be ushered in without delay.
“It wasn’t about what I was wearing or how I behaved. It was about who I am. About being Black,” he added, his voice heavy with disappointment.
The Vatican has not addressed the specific incident, though a general statement from the Holy See’s press office reaffirmed that “strict security measures” were in place during the Pope’s viewing due to large crowds and the presence of global dignitaries.
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But for many, that explanation falls short.
Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the account, noting that places of worship—especially during such symbolic moments—must uphold inclusivity and compassion above all.
“It’s disheartening to hear this,” said Amal Okoro, a spokesperson for the European Coalition for Racial Justice. “To be shut out of a farewell to a man who stood for the marginalized is a deep and painful irony.”
Pope Francis, who passed away last week, was widely known for championing the rights of the poor and excluded. His decision to be buried in a simple wooden coffin with no elaborate state ceremony underscored his message of humility. That legacy, the mourner said, is what brought him to the Vatican.
“His teachings gave me hope,” he said quietly. “But in that moment, I didn’t feel like I belonged. And that’s something I’ll never forget.”
