ROME — Earlier this semester in February, Bishop Earl Fernandes and Father Bill Hahn visited Rome for the jubilee of deacons and to meet with our diocesan seminarians at the North American College. At that time, we all thought that we might witness the death of our beloved Pope Francis.
As I would walk around Rome, Romans and tourists alike would bring up in conversation whether the Pope would make it or not. And he rallied. After he left the hospital, I was convinced that I would not be in Rome for his death and funeral. He seemed to have recovered and would continue to serve the Church.
During Holy Week, I attended the Chrism Mass, Good Friday service and Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica. As the Holy Father was not strong enough to celebrate those days, various cardinals took turns as celebrants; however, I was still certain that Pope Francis would be back soon.
On Easter, I witnessed Vice President JD Vance’s entourage as he went to the Vatican to visit the pope. That same day, Pope Francis emerged after Mass outside of St. Peter’s. So, on the Monday of the Easter Octave, I turned my attention to schoolwork and began writing my doctoral dissertation. I was working and lost track of time.
After several pages in, I stopped to check my emails. I saw an email titled “Pope Francis dies at 88.” I was shocked. I really did not expect it and, having been so focused on writing, I must have missed the bells that tolled at his passing.
Later in the week, I woke up early and made my way over to St. Peter’s to view Pope Francis’s body and pray for him. I reached the security entrance and there were already thousands of people in line. After a three-hour wait, I was finally able to get close to the casket to pray. I was moved by the many people from all over the world. Most were Italians living in Rome coming to visit their local bishop and speculating who might be the next pope. But others I met were from the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, and India. It was also moving to be able to pray for Pope Francis and to be near his mortal remains.
The canonization of Carlo Acutis was scheduled for Divine Mercy Sunday, and I had tickets for it. However, the canonization was canceled; nonetheless, thousands of young adults and teenagers from all over the world were in Rome for the canonization. Instead, they witnessed the historical funeral.
On Saturday, I again left early to make my way to St. Peter’s for the funeral Mass. I sat between priests from Germany and France. The priest from Germany flew into Rome just for the funeral; the priest from France was in town for the canonization. Waiting for the start of Mass, we spoke about the Church in our respective countries, of the many baptisms at Easter in both the U.S. and France, and of the clustering of parishes in Germany and the U.S. It was another experience of the universality of the Church.
At the Mass, we were all moved by the beauty of the music and the Latin language, as most of the Mass was in Latin. The tradition binds us and preserves what Christ and the apostles have handed on to us. We were moved by the gospel for the Mass that was of the Risen Christ asking Peter to feed His sheep. Christ continues to feed His Church as Peter remains in the Church through the pope.
We were moved by the presence of many dignitaries, including Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The pope and the Catholic Church still have relevance in the world.
We were moved by the affection of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re’s homily as he eulogized the pope, especially how Pope Francis called us to be evangelists and the Church to reach out to everyone.
We were moved by the beautiful Greek chant as the Eastern Catholic patriarchs and major archbishops incensed the coffin. The pope is the point of unity in the Church.
We were moved by the crowd of tens of thousands of people representing that Church stretched out across the world. The pope rightly should be a spiritual father to the whole world.
I frequently visit St. Mary Major, where Francis is now buried. It is a beautiful shrine to Our Lady. Francis frequently entrusted the Church and himself to Her. As he rests near the icon of Our Lady, may she continue to intercede for mercy upon his soul, the graces for the cardinals as they go into the conclave, and for the salvation and protection of the whole Church.
Father Adam Streitenberger, executive director of Buckeye Catholic at the St. Thomas More Newman Center, is currently studying in Rome.