Who is Giovanni Battista Re, the cardinal who presided over Pope Francis' funeral Mass

Early years

Born in Borno, Italy in 1934, Re started his life of faith and spirituality when he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Giacinto Tredici in Brescia in 1957. 

Holding a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Re went on to teach in the Brescia seminary and served as a curate before entering the Holy See's diplomatic service.

He has also taken various secretary roles, first as the personal secretary to Archbishop Giovanni Benelli and then as the Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops. He additionally held the position of Substitute for General Affairs of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State for 11 years, 

He was named as the head of the Congregation for Bishops and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and it wasn't long until he was eventually elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

Re participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI, and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Francis.

In 2020, Francis approved his election to a five-year term as Dean of the College of Cardinals, where his main role is to preside over the College, especially during important moments such as the death of a pope or the election of a new one.

If a pope dies or resigns, the dean leads the preparations for the conclave and presides over the meetings of cardinals beforehand. This position is also why Re was the one to preside over the funeral Mass of Francis.

What are his beliefs?

Re has shown strong conservative beliefs against abortion. Back in 2009, he shared his thoughts on an issue where a nine-year-old girl had an abortion in Brazil after being allegedly raped by her stepfather. Her mother and her doctors were then excommunicated, or banished from their church.

Re defended the move, saying that the twins the girl had been carrying had a right to live.

"It is a sad case, but the real problem is that the twins conceived were two innocent persons, who had the right to live and could not be eliminated," he said, per French news outlet France 24.

"Life must always be protected, the attack on the Brazilian Church is unjustified," he added.

Nevertheless, the College of Cardinals website described Re as having an "affable manner and efficient approach to issues and conflicts."

Per the Katholisch news outlet, Francis had also talked about Re and shared that he was "someone who openly disagrees with him on some issues, but whose advice and opinion he nevertheless values."

Homily on Pope Francis

In his Homily, Re delved into the many things that Francis contributed to the Church before his death.

"Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings, and hopes of this time of globalization. He gave of himself by comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching people's hearts in a direct and immediate way," Re said.

"Francis always places the Gospel of mercy at the center, repeatedly emphasizing that God never tires of forgiving us. He always forgives whatever the situation might be of the person who asks for forgiveness and returns to the right path," he continued.

According to him, Francis, who famously refused to judge gay or divorced Catholics, believed the Church "is a home for all".

He was driven by "the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open... a Church capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or condition, and healing their wounds", he said.

He further praised Pope Francis's efforts to help refugees, migrants, and the poor.

"His gestures and exhortations in favor of refugees and displaced persons are countless," he underscored.