By Steve Stricker

Columnist

Grazie e riposa in pace, Papa Francesco. Ciao e benvenuto al nostro nuovo Papa, Vescovo di Roma!

Elected Pope on March 13, 2013, the 266th successor of Saint Peter has died. “Funeral liturgy expresses, those saddened by the certainty of dying may be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.” Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Diocese of Jackson,  appointed by Pope Francis and installed as the 11th Bishop of Jackson on February 6, 2014. My hero mom’s birthday.

Monday, April 21, 5:30 am, watching Memphis, Channel 5 news, I was shocked as they announced that at 7:35 am Vatican time, The Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, 88, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Argentina, had died.

Shocked, because after being hospitalized 38 days for bronchitis, then double pneumonia and other complications, Pope Francis had returned to the Vatican, was recovering, back to a modified schedule, and just the day before, as I always do on Sunday, tuned in to EWTN to watch his Noon Angelus address from the Vatican.  On this Easter Sunday, he was in the Popemobile driven around so the thousands gathered on St. Peter’s Square could see how his health had progressed. 

He sat almost motionless, not waving and blessing the crowd as normal. Then at one point from the camera behind him, I saw his left hand make a gesture to pull over where he blessed waiting children. Later at Easter Sunday Mass, I prayed, as every day, for his intentions and continued recovery.

The cause of Pope Francis’ death was identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse, according to Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, who issued the official certification, and the Holy See Press Office released the report.

The “ascertainment” of death takes place in the Vatican chapel, rather than the room where he died, and his body is placed inside a simple cypress coffin lined in zinc (his choice), with his papal ring and lead seal broken to prevent misuse. He is embalmed, but there is no autopsy on a Pope. Cardinal Keven Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over this rite in the Chapel of Vatican’s Casa Santa Mata. 

Then, per his wishes, lying in state for veneration of the faithful in his open, unelevated coffin, facing the faithful in the Vatican Basilica, Wednesday – Friday, April 23-25, casket sealed Friday, Funeral, Saturday, and then transported to the Basilica of St. Mary Major where he will be entombed.\

Pope Francis was the first to take this name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi because he wanted “a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out in the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” Love this, as we are all broken.

He was also the first Argentinean from Latin America, first Jesuit, to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, and on September 24, 2015, the first Pope to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Of the many devotions Pope Francis promoted during his pontificate was his devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots.  This nine-day Novena saved my life….

A new Pope will be chosen by the College of 252 Cardinals in a Conclave 15 to 20 days after his death, of whom 135 under the age of 80, guided by the Holy Spirit, will cast a secret ballot, four votes a day until a new Pope is elected, in the Sistine Chapel.  The public is made aware of the voting results by the ballots being burned; black smoke – no new Pope, white smoke, we have a new a Pope…the 267th to St. Peter. Who does God want to next lead we Catholics forward?

My first memory of Pope Francis was his humility, washing the feet of prisoners, love of children, care of the homeless, forgotten, and his minimalistic disregard of audacious embellishments, humble residency in the Vatican – something I totally respect, am spiritually drawn to, and that which is lacking amongst many religious who make it all about themselves, distracting from the magnificent simplicity that was our Lord, Jesus Christ, and his Father.

And my last impression of Pope Francis is his humility in death and that Gelato was his favorite ice cream.  Submitting this column on Thursday, April 24, I eagerly anticipate and welcome with open heart the divine revelation of our new Catholic Pontiff, successor of St. Peter. No need to speculate on the outcome – God’s got this!

Thank you, Pope Francis, Rest in Wonderful Peace. Welcome new Pope, Bishop of Rome, whomever you are! 

Steve is a devout Cradle Catholic and has a figure of Pope Francis on his desk…when the sun hits it, his hand revolves.