“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55:8-9
How true these words are. My thoughts dwelled on this passage upon receiving the news that Pope Francis had passed away before I would depart for what I thought was going to be the canonization Mass of the first millennial saint, Blessed Carlo Acutis. Before Pope Francis’ passing, the question that I kept circling back to was, “If Carlo Acutis were still alive, he’d only be slightly older than myself. So if he can become a saint, what’s stopping me from becoming one?” Obviously, that changed when Pope Francis’ earthly mission came to an end on Easter Monday.
The week I spent in Rome was memorable, yet somber. Memorable in that I would witness a papal funeral Mass, which is more rare than a saint canonization, but somber as altogether, I had seen Pope Francis a total of four times during his pontificate. Of the four times, he was always serious yet joyous.
At the pope’s funeral, I drew inspiration from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re’s homily, when he summarized the late pontiff’s mission on Earth beautifully by recalling the various apostolic pilgrimages he undertook, and his tireless work for unity amongst not only Catholic Christians, but fostering fraternity with everyone he encountered and met. Most of that came to fruition when world leaders and the Roman and Eastern Rites all commemorated his departure from this life by attending Pope Francis’ Requiem Mass, which was very beautiful to witness.
The homily also made me recall how Pope Francis always advocated for peace, especially in recent years, and above all, his preaching and living out mercy and humility – from the moment he stepped out on the Saint Peter’s Basilica balcony March 13, 2013, to his “Urbi et Orbi” Easter blessing just a few weeks ago.
His presence was sorely needed for my own faith journey since his election, and I’ll forever remember him as the “people’s pope.” His pontificate was one defined by humility in word and action.
As pilgrims of hope in this trying time of transition, I take light of the fact that during the Easter Season, we truly know that this life is not all there is and that we have a heavenly home where we all will meet each other and our Lord face to face. We await our next pontiff – one who will worthily steer the Church further into this fast-paced century – in hope.
May we never forget that even though death is real, it is not the end. We are an Easter people! Christus Rex est!
David Pirolli is a parishioner of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Haddon Township.
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