Who is Kielce Gusta, the American journalist who made the first reading in Pope Francis?

Thousands of people from all over the world presented their respects to the last Pope Francis when he was buried Saturday in Italy.

Among them was the American journalist Kielce Gussie, who played a role during 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 News themezone 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.

Born and Catholic maid, 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 Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

He met Pope Francis twice before his death: the first time, he blessed his rosary and the second time, on his 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 him as someone who really cared for every person he knew.”

Francis is breaking with the recent tradition and will be buried in the Basilica Mayor of Santa María (Santa Maria Maggiore), where a simple underground grave awaits him with just his name: Francisco.

Tony Aiello contributed to this report.

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