The daily chores were temporarily put on hold at the Poor Clare Monastery on College Road in Cork city, as the sisters in this enclosed Order gathered together to watch the funeral service of a Pope they held in high regard, and with deep affection.
Watching television is a rare event and as they gathered to view the funeral service, the sisters reflected on the legacy of a Pope who was on the side of the poor and marginalised.
Sr Miriam, the Abbess said the community was both sad and happy today because Pope Francis had left "a wonderful legacy".
"We hope to embody those values and live them out in our life," she said.
"As he said, and as Bishop Fintan, the Bishop of Cork & Ross (said), he has always put before us to be missionary disciples, that we are not just locked up in here praying on our knees with our heads down but we much reach out to the whole world and especially to the locality."
Sr Miriam said his forte was that he had the common touch.
"Some popes have been very academic and have left us wonderful teachings, the doctrine of the Church, but this Pope has managed to blend both the academic and the pastoral touch because he was in the pastoral ministry for so long".
Sr Faustina said his universal appeal was that he had no favourites.
"Pope Francis just reached out to everybody," she said.
"He had no favourites. It was everybody.
"He reached out to rich and poor, those who believed and those who didn't believe and he was very authentic in that reach out. He tried to live the Gospel.
"He tried to live what God was asking of him and that touched people's hearts and people could connect with him and when you see him washing the prisoners feet, bending down and kissing them.
"Its just very moving.
"We are not used to that. I've never seen it before in a pope. We are not used to popes going out like that and bending down".
Sr Anthony-Mary said it was really lovely to see the young faces of today's church among those who had gathered in Rome and felt privileged to be able to watch the funeral service on television.
"People who couldn't go and be present, they can actually take part in the ceremony by turning on the television and that's a great blessing," she said.
'It just levels everybody'
Meanwhile, Sr Colette Marie said there was great joy in the ceremony.
"I remember that from when Pope John Paul died, when they lift up the coffin it is as if he is blessing us before he goes...and it is emotional.
"And it is a beautiful ceremony, and it is actually more joyful than sad, really," she said.
"I suppose when somebody good dies, we can rejoice.
"That's what we are here for, to live a good life and he has done that."
Sr Francis said this morning was very moving but there were tears of joy.
"He achieved in that funeral, his life's dream. He was always saying dream big.
"Everybody was brought together there, you had people, politicians from all over the world, they were shoulder to shoulder and they were all in agreement on this one man.
"That was his dream that we all brothers and sisters, our common home, there are no divisions, it just levels everybody".
Founded in the 12th Century by St Francis & St Clare, the Poor Clare Monastery was established in Cork in 1914 and six sisters remain in the enclosed monastery near University College Cork.
Franciscan community honour 'humble man'
Members of the Franciscan community in Cork also watched the funeral of Pope Francis.
As people gathered for midday mass at St Francis Church on Liberty Street, Fr Pádraig Breheny spoke of the sadness felt by the community and their hopes for the next Pope.
"It is very sad. I would have been in Rome myself so I know the city quite well and I saw Pope Francis on a number of occasions," he said.
Fr Padraig Breheny spoke of the sadness felt by the community
"It was sad watching because he was such a humble man, a really lovely man, a very ordinary man in so many ways.
"This morning, seeing his coffin there and all the people from all around the world there, it's a great tribute to him in a lot of ways but I think he'd probably be embarrassed as well.
"He was such a humble man."
Fr Breheny said he hopes that Pope Francis' legacy will inform the choice of the next Pope.
"It is really incredible to see the number of people who queued (to pay their last respects).
"If the Cardinals can see the influence he had and how much he touched people's lives, and if they can look at that and say, if we can pick somebody like that, it will be great but the Holy Spirit is in in too and the Holy Spirit is wise.
"So please God it will be a man that will be good for the Church and for the people too."
Meanwhile, a small number of people gathered to watch the transmission of the funeral mass at the basilica at Knock Shrine,
Bells were sounded to mark the conclusion of the service in Rome.
Marion Whyte, who is visiting Ireland from Australia, said she was moved by the mass and expressed hope that the successor to Pope Francis would provide the leadership and example of the late pontiff.
Carmel Moran, from Ballyroan, Co Laois also travelled to Knock with her daughter and her grandson, to pray for the Pope.
She said she was pleased to be able to view the service at the shrine, referencing the faith in Our Lady that was central to life and ministry of Francis.