Pope Francis in God’s Eternal Embrace

In our lives there are times when words fail!

It is at those times that symbols and images, gestures and pictures come to help us so that we can remember the people dear to us and to cope with the loss.

Each of us (including you, the readers), I sincerely imagine, has developed a bond with Pope Francis, in ways that we are not able to articulate or describe, but his life and ministry are inseparably interwoven into ours, our faith and our lives.

More than mourn and weep, it is refreshing to remember Papa Francesco, who is now in God’s presence, and more than ever close to God and to each one, and to recall that he is there to intercede and bless us all.

With deep joy and profound gratitude, we remember Pope Francis, and we all thank God for this person, the gift and grace he has been to each of us, to the Catholics, to the Church, and to the larger world.

Many say that there is something special about him! You are not alone if you also feel so!

Appearing at the balcony of St. Peter's, for the first time, when he greeted us all with a heartfelt ‘good evening’ and sought our prayers before he imparted the blessing, he looked special.

When he attentively heard a fellow cardinal in the Conclave reminding him of the poor and the need to keep them at the centre of his ministry, and when he chose to be called Francis, he looked special.

When he decided to visit the migrants and the refugee camps and preferred to speak of their dignity and rights, and prophetically shouted that no wall be raised to shut them out, he looked special.

When during the Audiences, he let the little children approach his Chair, speak to him, or hug him or carefreely walk about, he looked special.

When he hugged the disfigured person or kissed the hands of the missionaries and others who were persecuted or imprisoned or faced life threats, he looked special.

When he took initiatives to visit the little flocks in Myanmar and Mongolia or those in Iraq and Panama, he looked special.

When he appealed ceaselessly to stop wars and pleaded for peace or when he kissed the feet of Congolese leaders or the prisoners in Rome, he looked special.

When he reached out to the Orthodox and the Protestants and exchanged the kiss of peace with the Imam and greeted the representatives of different religions and cultures, he looked special.

When he humbly listened to the agonizing stories of the victims of abuse and assured them of reform and firmer action, he looked special.

When Covid darkened the world, when he walked all alone at St. Peter's Square, like a reassuring angel, to bless the world with health, peace and joy, he looked special.

When during the Synod he ensured that all, including Cardinals, would sit together around the tables, speaking humbly and listening attentively, he looked special.

When we read the many prayers he carefully drafted over the years that looked unusual, simple and profound and heartfelt- much like the Magnificat, he looked special.

When he chose women to be elector-members of the Synod and appointed others to places of responsibility that were held by men for a very long time, he looked special.

Many have written and will continue to write, in the days and weeks and years to come, about Pope Francis’ biographical details and of his theological, doctrinal, ecclesiological views but it is good to remember, at this poignant moment, simply the person that came across to us, the image that we hold in our hearts!

May Pope Francis live in God’s embrace eternally, experiencing peace and joy!

By Fr. Stan Alla SJ