Pope Francis remembers his late confessor, Fr. Manuel Blanco: man of advice

Pope Francis remembered and paid tribute this Sunday to Father Manuel Blanco, a Franciscan priest who was his confessor and who passed away between the night of Thursday the 20th and the early morning of Friday, June 21, at the age of 85.

After praying the Angelus, before the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the Pope said: “the day before yesterday, Father Manuel Blanco, a Franciscan who lived for forty-four years in the Santi Quaranta Martiri e San Pasquale Baylon church in Rome”.

“He was superior, confessor and man of advice,” highlighted the Holy Father.

“In remembering it, I would like to remember so many Franciscan brothers, confessors, preachers, who honored and honor the Church of Rome. Thanks to all of them! ”He expressed.

Shortly before, privately, the Pope had gone to the Santi Quaranta Martiri e San Pasquale Baylon church to pray before the coffin of his deceased confessor.

It was in an interview in 2015 that Pope Francis spoke about Father Blanco as his confessor, noting that he attended the Sacrament of Reconciliation “every fifteen days, twenty days.”

“I confess to a Franciscan Father, Father Blanco, who is kind enough to come here to confess to me,” the Pope then told Radio Renascença.

“I never had to call an ambulance to take him back, scared of my sins,” the Pope added jokingly.

In a letter of condolencethe Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), Fr. Massimo Fusarelli, assured that he had the opportunity to know Fr. Blanco “personally,” “over the years and thus appreciate his human, spiritual and intellectual qualities.” “I also always found in him a good, fraternal, strong and faithful presence in his way of life.”