‘Be kind to all’: Keralite confessor at Vatican recalls pope's ultimate message

Kochi: Fr Sebastian Pendanath, one of the 15 confessors at St Peter’s Basilica for a decade, could sit beside the mortal remains of Pope Francis at Santa Marta Domus, where a private viewing is being held for Vatican residents and the papal household, on Monday night. The pope’s mortal remains were brought to the chapel adjacent to St Peter’s Basilica, around 7pm (local time) on Monday.

“After the ceremonies led by Cardinals, we, the priests with St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican, were allowed to pay homage. We, around 40 priests, went inside the chapel around 7.30pm. We all sat beside his mortal remains and prayed silently till midnight,” Fr Pendanath told TOI. “The pope’s security personnel too came and paid last respects to him,” he said.

Pendanath said the pope was very humble and loving. “He told me during a private interaction to be kind to all. It was the ultimate lesson imparted by him,” Pendanath recalled. “Once he inquired about my family. He was very happy to know that I had eight siblings,” he said.

He had joined St Peter’s Basilica as a confessor in March 2015. Interestingly, Malayalam was added for confession -- the only Indian language to get the distinction -- after Pendanath joined the basilica.

“The pilgrims can select the confessor from a list exhibited at the Basilica. The pilgrims can also choose from around 25 languages like English, Italian and Spanish. Confession in Malayalam has been available since I joined. I hear the confessions of those who choose English, Italian and Malayalam. Up to 15 Malayali pilgrims confess before me every day,” he said.