Farewell Francis

I’m on my religion kick this week with the death and burial of Pope Francis. Didn’t know the man but I like what he represented for his followers and the example he set for the world. It is said that you can get a true sense of a person by their body of work.

I think it was very fitting how the son of Italians who immigrated to South America rose to the papacy to take the throne in Vatican City of his cultural homeland. Though born in Argentina, he was Italian.

Pope Francis was the first Jesuit and Latin American born Pope selected from the Americas making him the first non-European selected in more than 1,000 years.

I love that early in his life Jorge Bergoglio had vocations as a janitor and bouncer. Who would have guessed him to become Pope five decades later?

I love that he was a trained chemical technician.

I love that surviving a bout of pneumonia at age 21, drove him inward to his faith.

I love that he lived a meek and humble life without any hesitation.

I love that he loved his faith and didn’t outwardly judge others for disagreeing.

I love that his fellow cardinals acknowledged the goodness in him to elect him Pope in 2013.

I love that he spoke his truth and represented his faith without belittling others.

I love that when 45 & 47 tried to hold his hand during a photo op, Francis shooed it away.

I love that he shunned the official papal quarters for a smaller, less luxurious outfit.

I love that in death he opted for a wooden box.

I’m grateful that his last well wishes came on Easter Sunday, the day Jesus was risen. As I look at the video of him waving to the masses in the Vatican courtyard on that morning, it’s as if he knew what was to come in less than 24 hours. I honestly believe that when that time is upon us we will know and will welcome it when we are ready.

I now hope that his fellow cardinals will select among them another papal leader who exhibits the same gentle but steadfast belief and whose deeds in life have modeled that we would like to see in others.

The conclave, gathering of cardinals, to select the new papal leader will begin next Wednesday. I think it’s all fascinating, the cardinals gathering for days on end and the public waiting for the smoke signals, black if no selection and white if there is. I can clearly remember when Pope Francis was elected and when Pope Benedict XVI was too. I also remember when he resigned, which I thought was fascinating as well. Being Pope is kindred to being a Supreme Court Justice in my eyes—you die in that position. But Benedict was the first Pope to resign in 700 years. That said a great deal about him as well, being strong enough to relinquish the position knowing that he couldn’t serve to full capacity due to failing health.

I can remember Pope John Paul II. He had the longest term of any pope with some 9,655 days. I was born when his predecessor, Pope John Paul I, was in office but don’t recall anything about his reign.

I love how the cardinals lock themselves in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s famed Renaissance artwork to keep them amused while they eat, sleep, and vote. I find it interesting how cardinals only under the age of 80 can vote. Currently that comes to about 135 of them from all around the world, none of which are women, and most of which (108) were appointed by Pope Francis during his 12 year reign. The vote must produce a two-thirds plus one majority winner before white smoke is produced.

Beginning May 7, I will be tuned in for the white smoke filling the Roman square and the subsequent dressing of the new pope.