What I Saw in Pope Francis’s Last Appearance Will Stay With Me Forever
His final public message was one of hope and it moved me deeply
Life has surprising twists, and death arrives when we least expect it. On Easter Sunday, millions around the world gathered in hope, celebrating the promise of life triumphing over death. And yet now, we find ourselves once again face to face with the inexorable reality of transience and our mortality.
Yesterday, my heart rejoiced as I watched Pope Francis give his Urbi et Orbi blessing from the St. Peter’s Basilica balcony.
Here was someone who had looked death in the eye and was so resilient that, against all medical advice, managed to join the Easter celebrations.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but think about another image of a Pope's last public appearance.
On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, Pope John Paul II stood at his apartment window in the Vatican. He was visibly frail, as his health had declined.
After the Pope’s visible suffering on Easter Day, Sunday, March 27, and his absence from the traditional greeting on “Angel Monday”, this was John Paul II’s last appearance, as he passed a few days later on April 2.
So, yesterday, for a brief moment, I had this strange feeling of déjà vu, but then Francis descended to the square to bless the crowd cheering in St Peter’s Square.
As the Popemobile traversed the square, everyone cheered, and that thought vanished from my mind, and I thought he was on his way back to a full recovery.
There was applause and shouts of “Viva il Papa.”
“Long live the Pope!”
We watched Pope Francis blessing a child and handing out candy, as he always enjoyed doing.
I thought the worst was behind us.
Today, I woke up to the news from the Vatican about Easter Sunday and how the Pope was part of the celebrations.
Then, after a commercial, the TV anchor shared the news.
Pope Francis has died. My heart skips a beat.
I can’t believe it. It almost sounds like a spoof.
I just saw Francis. He was himself, resilient against all odds.
How can the Bishop of Rome have passed on Easter Monday?
This can’t be true.
I check social media and see this photo on Vatican News:
The official statement hits a few minutes later
At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”
Once again, the images from yesterday flash through my mind. I see Francis greeting the crowd from the St Peter’s Basilica loggia.
I see him pass the text to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Ceremonies, who reads it.
The Pope’s last message immediately echoes in my heart:
Christ is risen, alleluia!
Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!
Today at last, the singing of the “alleluia” is heard once more in the Church, passing from mouth to mouth, from heart to heart, and this makes the people of God throughout the world shed tears of joy.
From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, “is not here, he has risen” (Lk 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive! — Pope Francis
Francis has risen, too. He followed Christ to the light on this Monday of the Angel.
He is no longer with us, but his message of love lingers in our hearts.
This is the last message Francis had for everyone, and astonishingly, it’s the same message I shared on social media on Easter Sunday.
Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day. — Pope Francis
I published the post below hours before Francis appeared on the St. Peter’s Basilica balcony, and hours later, it warmed my heart when I heard Francis's words echoing my own.
There’s too much evil in the world right now. Evil brings only “pain and sorrow,” as Francis reminded us, and the voice of the meek has to be heard.
Francis reminds us that Christ is listening.
His passion and death were a sign of hope for us all, and through His example, he showed us a way to triumph over evil.
His infinite mercy opened the way. Now it’s up to us to follow in His name and strive for the greater good.
Through His example, we have found a new hope.
He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: “Christ, my hope, has risen!” — Pope Francis
Francis reminds us how “the resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope.”
Hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us. — Pope Francis
Francis dreamed of an ecumenical Church. In his vision, we are all “pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life.”
Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that we were not made for death, but for life.
The Judeo-Christian idea of death as a passage (Easter) as a path to personal salvation is rooted in hope.
Existentialism has always dwelt on this problem. Death as the annihilation of the miracle of life, and salvation only achievable by it, is a conundrum that puzzled the brightest minds.
So when an explanation lies in what we don’t know, hope is the only fuel that keeps us going.
Death is only terrible when we see it from life, when between us and its nothingness there is everything to lose.— Vergílio Ferreira, Nítido Nulo
If Holy Friday was a moment of sorrow. Easter Sunday is indeed the celebration of life!
In his eyes, every life is precious! — Pope Francis
Francis reminds us how all life is precious. So why is there a “great thirst for death” and war? He asks.
Why are “the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants” suffering the most?
We are indeed all God’s children, and the Father created us for life and wants the human family to rise together.
The meek will be blessed in the house of the Lord.
Francis' thoughts go out to all those suffering the vicissitudes of war, namely our sisters and brothers in Gaza, and the Ukraine, the South, as well anywhere in the world where conflict persists as he prayed for reconciliation between all parties and the liberation of prisoners of war and political prisoners in this jubilee year.
Hope, peace, and freedom are the cornerstone of Francis's last message, as he asked for “weapons” of peace: weapons that build the future, instead of sowing seeds of death.
There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others. Nor is peace possible without true disarmament! — Pope Francis
The Bishop of Rome has risen to the house of the Father, but Francis’ message of love is a seed of hope in our hearts, growing in all the lives he touched.
Ad aeternum vale, Pope Francis!
Hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us. — Pope Francis
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Rui Alves is a language teacher, published author, international book judge, and publisher. He runs Alchemy Publications and serves as editor-in-chief for Engage on Substack, Life Unscripted, Musicverse, Writelicious, The Academic, Portugal Calling, Engage on Medium, Rock n’ Heavy, Beloved, Zenite, Poetaph, Grind, and Babel.
This article appeared first on Zenite.
He at least died on a day that holds great significance for the Church.
There's an extraordinary synchronicity in your words Rui, and seeing the reflection in Pope Francis's last thoughts shared with the public on Easter Sunday.
His timing was divine and made a statement in itself.
Hope and unity are the way to heal our fractured world. His body was infused with the imperative nature of his message and rallied for his last stand.
Amazing! I'm glad you were there to witness this historic moment. 🤲🙏🌞🌷💎🌐