Yesterday, we had the rare honor and privilege to concelebrate at the funeral Mass of our beloved Pope Francis. A few days ago, I came to Rome together with some of our priests and lay faithful to attend the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Instead, as divine providence would have it, we found ourselves participating instead at the solemn Eucharistic celebration and final commendation of Pope Francis.
Much has been written and said about the extraordinary legacy of the great Pope Francis: his special love for the poor and the marginalized, his humility and simplicity that became the hallmark of his ministry, his advocacy for our common home, his insistent appeal for peace and care for migrants, among many others. Indeed, he was a great leader not only of the Church but of the world. I, for one, believe that he was the most credible (if not the only) among the world leaders of his time. Cardinal Re’s homily at yesterday’s funeral Mass eloquently encapsulates the great legacy of Pope Francis to the Church and to humanity.
As I waited two hours for the start of yesterday’s Mass, I collected myself and asked what impact Pope Francis had made on me personally. I remembered at once the Synod on Young People which I had the fortune to participate in 2018. Pope Francis was with us for the whole month of October taking part in all the sessions and freely interacting with us during breaks.
I recall once asking him during snack if I could take a video of him giving a special blessing for our diocese. I thought it would be the best pasalubong I could take home. He gladly obliged and asked for the name of my diocese. “Bacolod,” I said. He had a hard time pronouncing it, so he asked me to write it on paper. I then prepared my cellphone, as he waited. “Ready?” he said. “Yes,” I answered. He gave his blessing, and I took the video.
After thanking him, I immediately checked my video. To my great disappointment, I realized what a big digital ignoramus I was. I must have pressed the wrong button since I could not find any footage of the Pope’s blessing in my cellphone.
Pope Francis was at home with people. He would have wanted to remove all protocols (if it were possible) to be with people. He saw in them God’s children, whatever their status or religion. And to each of them he brought God’s love, mercy and joy.
I don’t know how many attended the funeral Mass yesterday. St. Peter’s square was filled with people which overflowed to Via Conciliazione and beyond. I’m sure each of them has a story to tell on how Pope Francis had touched them and affected their life.
The day before he died, he asked that he be brought to the people gathered in the square so he could give the Easter blessing and make his last round among them in his Popemobile.
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. I want to close by quoting from Cardinal Re’s homily yesterday.
“Pope Francis always placed the Gospel of mercy at the center, repeatedly emphasizing that God never tires of forgiving us. He always forgives, whatever the situation might be of the person who asks for forgiveness and returns to the right path. He called for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in order to highlight that mercy is ‘the heart of the Gospel.’”