In the heart of Vatican City, where Pope Francis was once seen making unannounced visits, shop owners are reflecting on not the prominent religious leader, but the approachable individual they came to cherish. While he was hospitalized, these local businesspeople kept him in their prayers, and now, they fondly remember his presence in their lives.
Sebastian Padrón, an Argentine ice cream vendor, has particularly poignant memories of Pope Francis as one of his beloved customers. For over seven years, Francis frequented Padrón’s shop, located conveniently near the simple hotel room the pope chose to inhabit rather than the opulent papal apartments. This decision of simplicity also influenced his interactions; he was known to gift Padrón’s children, forming a deep connection with the family. Padrón recalls, “The memories are beautiful, making it hard to bear his absence.” Among his offerings, the dulce de leche ice cream held a special place in Francis’s heart, a nod to the pope’s well-known preference for the sweet treat.
After assuming papacy in 2013, Francis made the choice to reside in the Domus Santa Marta hotel, an embodiment of his distaste for extravagance and his desire to remain connected with ordinary people. Favoring simple transport, he navigated Rome in a modest hatchback, often engaging in everyday activities like purchasing shoe insoles, adjusting eyeglass prescriptions, and acquiring classical music and tango records reminiscent of his Argentine roots. His longing for the freedom he enjoyed while wandering the streets of Buenos Aires was a familiar sentiment to those who knew him.
Raniero Mancinelli, a Roman tailor, also cherishes fond memories of Francis, having sold him the straightforward pectoral cross he wore for many years. Mancinelli, who has tailored garments for the papacy’s last three leaders, notes Francis’s preference for practicality over opulence. Recalling a moment when he sold the then-cardinal a sash before the conclave that elected him as pope, Mancinelli remembers Francis’s humorous remark upon hearing the price: “Raniero, you’re a bit of a thief.” Francis’s cardinal robes were notably hand-me-downs, reflecting his preference for simplicity.
Pope Francis frequently surprised locals and tourists alike with his appearances at Rome’s shops, once famously visiting an optician in the city’s historical quarter. Luca Spiezia, the owner of the store, reminisces about the day Francis introduced himself merely as “Francesco” in 2015. Though offered new spectacles, Francis opted only for updated lenses for his existing frames, insisting on paying without fanfare. “He always made you feel at ease, never imposing his global stature,” says Spiezia. “I hope the next pope carries on this legacy.”