There seems to be profound messages that come when people cross over. I woke up this morning to the sad news that Pope Francis, the extremely progressive and compassionate leader of the Catholic Church, passed away this morning.
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| Pope Francis December 17, 1936 – April 21, 2025 |
It seems appropriate that he would pass away the day after Easter Sunday. It reminded me of when Pope John Paul II passed away on April 2, 2005, six days after Easter. My mother was terminally ill at the time and she didn't seem to be afraid of the transition she was going through.
For instance, a few weeks before Mama passed away, she had a dream about the Virgin Mary. In the dream Mary asked her why she was wearing a Willie Nelson bandana with braids on her head, because after all, Willie isn't a Catholic. In her vivid dream, my mother told the Virgin Mary that Willie wasn't a Catholic but he was a very good man. Then after Pope John Paul passed away, she very clearly thought it would a good time to go and she wanted a pretty burial casket like his. She passed away 10 days later on April 12, 2005. It seems that when one gets to be that age, there has been enough time to think about how one prefers to exit stage left and everything seems very clear.
My father had passed away suddenly on August 20,2001. I had a dream that morning that someone had stolen the hand carved chair that he had made as a young man in the Civilian Conservation Corps Camps in the 1940's.When I woke up, I sat up to make the chair was still there in my bedroom, it was there but I still felt something was terribly wrong. I received a call at work later that afternoon with a message that my father had passed away suddenly of a heart attack.
I felt the presence of my father for weeks after he passed away then on the morning of September 11, he came to me in a dream and told me he was going to have to go help some people. I started crying in the dream and he told me I was strong and I was going to be okay. I was working at the newspaper at that time, my mother was staying at my house for the weekend and I remember dropping her off at "Jim's" restaurant in Oak Hill for my sister Nita to take her home with her for the week. When I got to work, the news on all the TVs in the newsroom were reporting that two hijacked airplanes crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Almost 3,000 people died. It was just like my dad to be there for those who crossed over the morning of 9/11.
Today Pope Francis has crossed over but I can't help but believe that his soul knew that he could accomplish so much more from the other side during these difficult times. Pope Francis led and lived by example. He consistently focused on the needs of the poor, migrants and other marginalized groups, challenging the church to be more compassionate and proactive in addressing social inequalities. He focused on social justice, inclusion and the importance of caring for the marginalized and vulnerable. He spoke out against climate change and war, urging the world to address these challenges with urgency and compassion. He introduced significant changes to the Catholic Church, including loosening official attitudes on divorce, de-emphasizing conservative sexual morality, and promoting a more open and inclusive approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics. So now, after his death, his teachings, writings and actions will continue to inspire and guide Catholics and others seeking to create a more just and equitable world. Pope Francis's legacy will serve as an example for future generations of leaders in the church and beyond, encouraging them to be bold, courageous, and committed to making a difference in the world.
May the spirit of Pope Francis live on forever.
