Thousands of people from all over the world respected the last Pope Francis when he was buried Saturday in Italy.
Among them was the American journalist Kietce Gusta, who played a duration of the role of the funeral mass in St. Peter’s Square, where he made the first reading.
“My initial thinking was ‘Oh, my God’, but then, after I thought ‘this is a great honor’, being part of this transcendental occasion,” he told CBS News before the funeral. “In addition, for me, it is a great way to thank Pope Francis.”
The 28 -year -old is an American journalist from Vatican News who has a degree at Mount St. Mary University in Maryland and a Bachelor of Communication from the Church of the Pontifical University in Rome.
CBS News/Cameron Stewart 
Born and raised Catholic, Gussie has been living in Rome since 2019, where she worked as a news producer for Ewtn and Rome reports before becoming a news reporter of the Vatican in October 2024. It also contributes to the Usecan newspaper.
She with Pope Francis twice before her death: the first time, she blessed her rosary and the second time, on her birthday.
“At that time, I didn’t see him as the head of the Catholic Church, I saw him as a grandfather,” he said. “And so, for me, I will remember it as some who really worried about each person he hears.”
Francis is breaking with the recent tradition and will be buried in the Basilica Mayor of Santa MarĂa (Santa Maria Maggiore), where a simple underground grave awaits him with just his name: Francisco.
Tony Aiello contributed to this report.
