Photo: FIAMC Press Services

Anne Lastman

We remember the passing of our beautiful, holy Pope.  His Holiness Pope Francis.

A pope so different than the different papacies of recent past.

“Oh how I want a poor church”

My personal memories of this pope were three or four.  These memories still bring copious tears to my eyes.. A pope whom I loved so much and as someone I know said “ you love this pope much”  Yes I do very much.  In him I saw Jesus walking again amongst us  and on Easter Sunday, 2025 we heard his last words and received his last blessing  “Cari fratelli e sorelli, buona Pasqua.”  (Dear brothers and sisters happy Easter)  As I looked at his face (close up on screen) I could see that the end was very near and like those who stayed at the foot of the cross and looked on as Jesus left them.  Likewise the  day after Easter, a newsbreak, “Pope Francis has died” flashed across the screen  and a short edit and images of his life.  The eulogies and stories and condemnations, and praises would come over the next few weeks. Mostly the reporting was  positive with a few negative stories thrown in by those especially who had criticised him publicly and cruelly throughout his pontificate. 

A little about my experience with Pope Francis. I have lived through 5 papacies but none had/have affected me as much as Pope Francis.  Whilst I honoured and respected the other recent past popes I never became attached or read their encyclicals, letters, books.  I would defend them because they were “Peter” but that’s all.  However, with Pope Francis it was different beginning, from the very first moment and appearance on the balcony and the name he chose  “Francis” and his words “pray for me.” I knew he would be different. 

I remember upon hearing the name he chose “Francis”  thinking that he must have heard the words of Jesus, like the first St Francis, “build my church” and so our Pope Francis set about rebuilding the church of Jesus not  with bricks and mortar but compassion for all. This task which he set for himself would prove to be for him a heavy task and cross because those with “servants” to carry the load didn’t like it.  His choice of name alerted me to keep watch for his writings and actions and I wasn’t disappointed.  There were many times when I did really cry because of the disrespect he had to publicly  endure, even just for him as a human being. The attempt to diminish his dignity. Yet he endured. 

Another  memory and clear image I have  is the one where during Covid 19 we saw him ascend up a ramp or top of stairs to the  main entrance of St Peter’s Basilica to pray, intercede with God  and bless us against the pestilence.

His Holiness  was seen walking up a ramp to pray for humanity. To pray against the pestilence which had visited us and touched all with its toxic talons. It was a moment where nothing could be done except for “Peter,”  like Moses, to climb the mountain (ramp) and to approach the Lord and intercede for all humanity. 

“Peter” (pope Francis) walking slowly, limping, breathless, and at times  seemingly finding it difficult to reach the top of the ramp  but determinedly he went on  towards the top when, along the way,   he had  some  assistance by another, Simon of Cyrene, till he reached the lectern then for a short time, breathless, stood and looked into the empty St Peter’s square, which throughout the seasons is never empty but now it was  and standing there, in the rain, he appeared  such a  lonely figure.  The darkness and rain added to the soberness and symbolism. Tears of Jesus  over our own Jerusalem, for whom  Jesus wept (Lk 19:41). In this setting the holy father prayed and delivered the special  Urbi et Orbi blessing where he entreats  Omnipotent God  to look on our painful condition and to comfort His children during these times, through Christ Our Lord. Amen

There was a strange silence. He prayed more. He blessed the world. He lifted Jesus  present in the most beautiful monstrance and turned him slowly around to face north, south, west, and east.  To bless the whole globe and its people. To bless all of creation.  “Peter” carried (like Jesus)  the weight of the pandemic (cross) in this moment of great suffering  which threatened all of humanity.  He seemed such a lonely figure.  I imagine, much like Jesus in Gethsemane interceding, asking, accepting what was to come.  

His was to be a pontificate of firsts.  His residence not apostolic apartments, a humbler Casa Santa Marta, where, Cardinals during conclave, visiting priests and church dignitaries can stay.  He wanted to be amongst people and not alone.  He needed company, just like all of us do.  He eschewed the red shoes, the papal transport  (when not on official visits)for a small vehicle which he drove himself. 

And so began his work “build my church” and he did so again not of bricks and mortar but the soul of the church.  Not rules and regulations but the souls of the people of God. Not sanitising the church but calling it a “field hospital” and bringing in the unwanted.  Not eating banquets with the elite (though this he did also) but eating and celebrating his birthdays with street people. Not sleeping in comfort with all facilities available to him whilst the poorest had not even a place to wash, and so he created  places for them to shower and change, separate for men and women, and provided for them with the needs of both the genders. He didn’t have much hair himself but set up barber shop so men could clean themselves and then have haircuts and beards trimmed. To pope Francis the dignity of the human being was of the utmost importance.  

To the chagrin of his security detail he wanted to move about and mix with his flock. He was not a “Peter” sitting behind safe walls but like the first Peter on whom the church was found, “You are Peter the rock and on this rock I will build my Church” (Jesus) Pope Francis took these words to heart and mixed with and spoke about disenfranchised, poor, sick, elderly, unwanted, and rebuilt as much as the Lord allowed him to, his church. He moved among sinners, indeed calling himself a sinner and always “don’t forget to pray for me” 

The Holy father, spoke forcefully and loudly against those who would judge others for their sins, never seeing their own sin of judgement.  Those who believed that they knew more than “Peter” who was guided by the Holy Spirit.  Those who attacked him publicly and attempted to humiliate him.  The wolves amongst the flock who attempted to sway the sheep from the Lord’s care.  The wolves whose every word could be recognised who its author was. 

Easter will always bring to mind not only Pasqua of the Lord, the Ultimate Good Shepherd but we will also remember another good shepherd, Pope Francis, who not only preached the Gospel but lived it and showed us how to also live it.  

Following Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday we pray for our chief shepherd  whom we have been given Pope Leo XVI, and we pray for his pontificate, and we also pray for all our shepherds present and those to come.  We pray for the Lord to strengthen all shepherds especially during difficult times and times of temptation and we pray that many new shepherds will respond to the call to take care of the flock. 

Thank you Lord for all our shepherds.