Biagio Conte, a lay missionary based in Palermo, is seen doing a pilgrimage in a almost deserted street on March 20, 2020, in Palermo, Italy. Conte died Jan. 12, 2023, and his Jan. 17, 2023, funeral in Palermo was attended by thousands. / Photo by Tullio Puglia/Getty ImagesCNA Newsroom, Jan 17, 2023 / 15:30 pm (CNA).Thousands of people attended the Jan. 17 funeral of Biagio Conte, the lay missionary founder of the Hope and Charity Mission who was also known as a "modern-day St. Francis."Corrado Lorefice, archbishop of Palermo, Italy, and primate of Sicily, was the main celebrant of the Mass, which was concelebrated by numerous bishops and priests.The funeral was held in the Palermo cathedral, which was filled to capacity.According to official figures, approximately 1,500 faithful were present inside the church, and at least 9,000 followed the ceremony on giant screens placed outside and around the cathedral.In his homily, Archbishop Lorefice stressed that Conte "prayed with tru...