I was born during the last few months of the papacy of John XXIII. By the time I understood what a pope was and what he meant to the Catholic Church, that leader was Paul VI. After Paul VI passed in 1978, we had Pope John Paul I and then Pope John Paul II (the transition happened so rapidly with John Paul I passing away barely a month into his papacy).
Understanding that, I would say that most of my life was spent during the era of the Pilgrim Pope, John Paul II. A tremendous leader of the faith. A man of character and clarity. And after his passing, we had Pope Benedict XVI – who would later retire in 2013 and watch his successor, Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, become the first Latin American pope, His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Today comes the sad news that His Holiness has received his final orders and was called to glory, at the age of 88.
In moments like this, one thinks about their own mortality, and what they did in this life to make the world a better place. And Pope Francis had many of those moments, even to the point where he named three of the popes I previously mentioned – John XXIII, Paul V and John Paul II – as saints. Oh, and John Paul I was elevated to beatification. Considering that these popes performed miracles – not the kind that turns water into wine, but instead turns political swords into ploughshares – their sainthood was truly earned.
I’m sure there will be plenty of accolades and memories and thoughts regarding His Holiness. And there will be the next steps – the Conference of Cardinals, the days watching the Basilica for a puff of white smoke – and the naming of a new leader of the faith. Where will this new leader come from? What name with this new person choose? What will the future bring?
Today, we remember a peaceful Pope and his life work.
Tomorrow, we find the one who is worthy to accept the shoes of the fisherman and lead the faithful.
Chuck The Writer 