Beholdened to neither Church nor Pope, We Note Francis, Nonetheless

Pope Francis’ death surprised most of the world. It happened overnight into Monday.

On Sunday we had just seen Pope Francis in a wheelchair. He was ill, but looked all right. He looked like he was healing; this, especially after double pneumonia. Between Easter Sunday and Monday morning something happened.

Waking on Monday morning and beginning the routine by tuning to Minnesota Public Radio’s “Morning Edition,” I heard it preoccupy on Francis. I began to wonder, “what’s up with Francis? What happened?

Then I heard the host speak of Francis in the past tense..!

He cannot have died! – He was alive and looked cheery only “yesterday”. MPR’s “Morning Edition” and ABC’s “Good Morning America” devoted more than a whole hour to the news of Francis, his novel persona and his legacy.

I’m not religious. I’m fairly spiritual. I went to a First Unitarian Society church in Minneapolis regularly until my work schedule changed six-years-ago. Although I am centrist, even center left, the crowd made me feel conservative. And being the rare caramel-colored person there, as with too much of the Twin Cities, the crowd was too (90%) white, and bleeding-heart liberal for my comfort.

The news of Francis’ death struck me more than the sad incident. I’m neither Christian nor Catholic. Still, Francis’ reputation for humility and righteousness left an impression on me. Although social media wag the dog, preaching narcissism, I am old enough to remember that humility remains a virtue. But sadly, it doesn’t receive “the clicks”.

Beyond certain virtues, it’s hard for a pope to make an impact on a person, especially a secular one.