On April 24, a Facebook user known for systematically spreading disinformation, Fa Ntina, published a video claiming it was related to the Pope’s funeral. In the video, individuals dressed in special garments are seen entering a church. They are wearing pointed hoods that cover their faces. The post’s author wrote, “It’s the Pope’s funeral! Roosters in inverted crosses! Satanic masks on their faces! Hellish noise! It looks like a Masonic gathering – where is Christian Catholicism here?”
The footage circulating on social media is not related to the Pope’s funeral. In reality, the scenes were filmed in Cartagena, Spain, showing events during Holy Week, known as Semana Santa. The video does not depict “satanic symbols” either. The individuals shown are members of the women’s group Tercio del Arrepentimiento de San Pedro, and the symbols of the inverted cross and the rooster are connected to the Apostle Peter.
The Facebook user, along with several accounts on platform X (formerly Twitter) (1;2), shared the video between April 22 and 24, describing it as a “satanic ritual” at a funeral. However, it should be noted that by April 22, the date of Pope Francis’ funeral was already officially set for April 26 at 10:00 AM.
In addition to the fact that the footage does not show Pope Francis’ funeral, it was neither filmed in Italy nor connected to the Pope’s death. The video was actually recorded in Cartagena, Spain, during the Easter celebrations – in the period of Holy Week, i.e., Semana Santa. Numerous visual materials of similar processions can be found in open sources (1;2). However, the exact footage was located by Myth Detector on the TikTok platform. The video, dated April 17, was posted by an account called “Semana Santa Cartagena,” which shares videos related to Holy Week events. It is important to note that Pope Francis passed away on April 21, and the video’s posting date rules out any connection to his funeral.
Semana Santa in Spain took place between April 13 and April 20. It is a Holy Week associated with Easter, when many processions take place, with each region showcasing unique, centuries-old traditions.
Moreover, the circulated footage shows a church located in Cartagena named Santa María de Gracia.
The participants in the procession, seen in the video, belong to Cartagena’s Arrepentimiento de San Pedro, a group composed of women. Their official website describes their outfit, which matches what is seen in the video: a white wool tunic, a black satin cape with a gold-embroidered emblem, a high black satin hood edged with a white cord, a golden-embroidered red velvet belt, black sandals, white socks, and white gloves with black trim.
Facebook and X users have labeled the symbols – the inverted cross and the rooster – as “satanic.” However, the inverted cross and the rooster are symbols associated with Saint Peter. According to explanation, the rooster is a symbol mentioned in the Gospel narrative of Peter’s denial of Christ, and the inverted cross represents the way Peter was crucified — upside down (as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ).
The video circulating on social media was fact-checked by the Spanish fact-checking organization Maldita as well.
Photo : AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
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