Pope Francis’ final journey: A simple goodbye to a Pope who asked us to love more
28 April 2025, 12:37
Pope Francis’ final journey from St Peter’s by road to the smaller church of Santa Maria Maggiore represented the two poles of his papacy.
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The spectacular grandeur of the Vatican was the inevitable backdrop for the Requiem Mass of the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics. At the heart of the service is the Mass itself and Catholics worldwide would recognise its rhythms and content.
Those of us who witnessed it were treated to a feast for the eyes and ears.
Deep blue skies, the red and purple cassocks of the cardinals and bishops, and the soaring beauty from the choir of St Peter’s.
Political intrigue too as leaders from around the globe filed onto the square as directed. Catholic royals in the first tier, other royals second then, perhaps a lesson in humility, political figures third.
As the service came to an end the pallbearers lift and turn the coffin to face the thousands who’d come.
The people Francis had greeted with a simple ‘buona serra’ the night he was elected and first appeared on the balcony now said goodbye in the blazing sunshine.
Then came the procession by car - an adapted ‘popemobile’ that brought to mind Prince Philip’s funeral Landrover.
The smaller basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, though hardly a small parish church, is situated in a poorer part of Rome several kilometres from the historic centre.
A retired British couple, who chose to be there over the grandeur and crowds around St Peter’s, said it felt more prayerful and in keeping with Francis’ commitment to the poor.
He wanted a church for the poor. People can now visit his burial place there marked simply with the name Franciscus, a softly lit crucifix standing guard above.
Now, all thoughts turn to the conclave (election process) to decide who should succeed him.
People interpret the power of the papacy in myriad ways. Some obsess over the ambitions of individual cardinals or branches of thought within the Vatican itself - think Whitehall skullduggery! Others go straight to Catholic Social Teaching on issues particular to them - the roles of women, gay Catholics, Trans rights, and reproductive ethics. All matter enormously and any change is likely to be glacial.
Francis, though, has thrown down the gauntlet to his fellow cardinals on all of the above. Will the Church founded by Christ reject so many of the people He came to save? Will it operate in an attitude of superiority rather than love? Will it get in amongst all people who look for God and those who don’t?
The late Pope famously told priests the oil placed on their foreheads when ordained should drip onto their cassocks and into the lives of the people they encountered. Otherwise, he said, it would turn ‘rancid’. What an image. Scorsese never came up with a better piece of direction.
As for the rest of us his message was just as clear. Love more. Judge less. Remember we are all brothers and sisters.
I think we can all make use of that.
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