Pope Francis: Tears, tributes and hope as faithful and well-wishers come together to celebrate remarkable life

West Australian

23-04-2025

Newspaper stalls and souvenir stands lie bare along the Via della Conciliazione.
For days, pilgrims and tourists have grabbed whatever souvenirs they can to commemorate the moment.
Propelled by a nervous energy that, in contrast to the empty stalls, fills St Peter's Square as the Catholic Church begins turning a significant page in its history.
'Unbelievable. I'm a history teacher myself, it's very rare that you get to be a part of an event that I'll be teaching in a couple of years or so,' said Jyssica Sherwood, who learnt of the Pope's death on holiday when the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out.
She, like thousands of tourists here, is awed by the occasion rather than being gripped by sadness.
'This is my third time here in Rome and I've never seen it as I'm seeing it today. It's quite amazing. Despite the circumstances it's good to see good things coming out of it,' she said.
Even clergy are viewing his passing through a prism of optimism.
'We are also rejoicing in the fact that the passing of Pope Francis has been so gracious, so beautiful, so blessed,' said Father Joao Vila-Cha.
The Portuguese Jesuit feels a 'deep profound gratitude' to Francis.
The first of his order to become Pontiff, Francis worked right up until his death, delivering the Easter Sunday mass hours before he suffered a stroke and heart failure.
Father Vila-Cha will be among the thousands of mourners who see the Pope lying in state before his funeral on Saturday.
Vatican sources say the institution is preparing for a minimum 200,000 guests at the funeral, among them will be 170 foreign delegations.
Donald Trump is set to arrive on Friday. Prince William, standing in for his father King Charles, and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky will also be there.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the Ambassador to the Vatican Designate, Keith Pitt, Senator Don Farrell and Michael McCormack will represent Australia.
'Most people are remembering him as a pope of the people who prioritised the least among those in society,' said Christopher White, the National Catholic Reporter's Vatican correspondent.
But the traits that enamoured him to more than a billion people around the world, are the same that inspired his fiercest critics inside the church.
In particular in the College of Cardinals.
'The men tasked with electing a new pope face a stark choice. Do they want to continue on the path of reform that Pope Francis initiated?' White said.
'Or do they want to initiate a course correction and go back to a church that's more rigid and focused on doctrine?'
Two of his fiercest opponents were Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinea and Cardinal Raymond Burke from the US.
The pair staged a choreographed entrance to the Vatican.
'The fact they showed up together seemed to be a telling statement to those of us watching.' White said.
But even if the Church performs a U-turn on the progressive path Francis forged, there are some vestiges of 'Papa Francesco' that will be hard to dislodge.
'It'll be very hard to have a Pope that's goes back to the era where the papacy is viewed as a monarchy,' White said.
Father Vila-Cha agreed.
'I think what will endure is the proximity,' he said.