Roshan
Pope Francis for me was a friend I never met or had the chance to talk to. I felt like he
had a place in his heart for me. To me he is that person who I could love and respect, but
also openly have a grouse with (if it came to that) and still remain friends.
On the day of his election standing on the ‘balcony’ he seemed as exhausted as any of us
who were awaiting the news of who the new Pope would be. Just when I felt there was
an air of humanness about him, he went on to say the strangest thing I have heard any
leader within the church say, “Pray for me.” That is when we became friends.
In being humane he exposed his vulnerability to sin, I feel this is what drew hoards of
vulnerable communities of people to his embrace – a sense mutual empathy. Pope
Francis in a way knew who he really needed prayers from – the poor in spirit. Rightfully
so, his papacy can be defined by the people he engaged with from the start of his Papacy
till the end.
In 2013 he found himself in Youth Detention Centre in Rome. He washed the feet of 12
inmates, some of them women. I still remember the (mostly pleasant) shock on the faces
of the faithful in my church when the parish priest had to wash the feet of 6 women too.
Leading by example Pope Francis started from the simplest things within the radar of
the legacy Jesus left behind. After all, Jesus asked us to love God and love the neighbour
as ourselves – how simpler could that get (if we tried without inhibitions). The last days
of his Papacy found the only Catholic Church in Gaza, Holy Family Church’s parish priest
receive regular calls from an ailing Pope on a wheelchair.
Pope Francis was that person who could be introduced to anyone, knowing he would
not make anybody feel judged. He was respectful of those who had public disputes with
him, even some of his own cardinals. As a people’s Pope he did all he could while being
mindful of his limitations as an administrator, head of State and a religious leader.
Through his shortcomings he effortlessly showed us all how simple it is to be a human
being – do your part and pray, consistently; even better, ask people to pray for you too.
Which is why I feel part of whatever he has tried to do and done. He was aware that he
would not see an end to war, suffering, human trafficking, prejudice, homophobia,
hunger, gender inequality, ecological exploitation, injustice, persecution, and so many
other things – but initiated and continued efforts to tackle these problems. He bore his
docility on his meek shoulders to his grave.
He activated much needed conversations in revisiting the role of the church in being an
efficient ‘field hospital’ (as he would put it). Through his Papacy, I found myself getting
treated in this field hospital but also working there. His example has shown us all that
doing the tiny things matter. Call a friend who is in constant distress, be firm but kind,
be conscious of not wasting natures resources, share what you have with the needy,
take a moment to realise that you are loved by God, be joyful and if everything else fails
– pray; ask for prayers, intercede with every living or dead person to pray. While we do
these tiny things, may we not forget to listen to each other. After all a good friend listens
and only then acts. Pope Francis is now weaved in with all other people who tried to
leave the world better than they found it into the memory of the world. May we also
contribute to leaving our world better than we found it.
