Fr. John Paul | July 1, 2025
Easter Monday is the day when most priests are exhausted—mentally, physically, and spiritually. Holy Week for a priest is non-stop. There are preparations for all of the Sacred Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. These are the holiest days of the year for a Christian. Through the Sacred Liturgy, you are touching the “pulse” of the Paschal Mystery—the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
I woke up at 5:45 a.m. on Monday of the Easter Octave to a flurry of messages on my phone. Pope Francis had passed away into Eternal Life. I did experience sadness because I have a close bond with him, as I was commissioned by the Pope as a Missionary of Mercy during the Extraordinary Year of Mercy in 2016. At the same time, I knew how much he had suffered, and I was a bit relieved that he passed away the day after the celebration of Easter. God has a beautiful sense of humor. What an amazing week to pass on to the Father’s House.
I remember purchasing my ticket for Rome before the Holy Father went into the hospital. It was all part of the larger plan of Providence, I suppose. I was scheduled to attend the Canonization of Bl. Carlo Acutis and also a pilgrimage throughout Portugal, Spain, and France from May 10–May 28. I asked Fr. Leonard if, after attending the Canonization of Bl. Carlo on Divine Mercy Sunday, I could stay in Rome to do my yearly visit to the EWTN Vatican Bureau instead of flying back to the US and then flying back again for the pilgrimage through Portugal, Spain, and France. He said yes! So, I already had 2½ weeks scheduled in Rome, which was just enough time to experience nearly all of the events that take place after the death of the Roman Pontiff.
It will be an experience that I’ll never forget, and I believe I will be unpacking it for the rest of my life. As soon as we landed, EWTN began setting up for the nearly month-long coverage of the Papal Funeral, Novendiales (9 Days of Mourning), Conclave, and Inauguration of the New Pope. I had experienced watching the days after the death of Pope St. John Paul II from afar through EWTN’s coverage over the television. It had been 26 years since the Church experienced the whole process of what happens after the death of a pope. I’ll never forget those days.
Pope John Paul II was my pope. During those days, I lived with profound sadness. My sadness turned into joy when I heard the words, “Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum!”—“I announce to you a great joy!” “Habemus Papam!”—“We have a Pope!” Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected and took the name Benedict XVI. I’ll never forget that day! It was one of the happiest days of my life. A little over eight years later, Pope Benedict decided to step down from the papacy. I’ll never forget that day. It was February 11, 2013, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, and I was scheduled to preach for the TV Mass that morning. We heard the news of Pope Benedict’s decision 30 minutes before the broadcast of the TV Mass. Fr. Anthony mentioned it at the start of Mass, and I didn’t mention it during the homily. The whole Church was stunned!
The next Conclave would look a lot different than the one that elected Benedict XVI. There was no traditional nine days of mourning after the passing of the Pope. Pope Benedict set the official date and the exact time when the seat would be vacant—sede vacante. After that, the Cardinals were summoned to come to Rome to elect the next successor to St. Peter. Those days were a lot different than the previous days leading up to the Conclave. Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio was elected very quickly on the fifth ballot and within one day of the Conclave and chose a name that no Pope had ever chosen—Francis.
There’s a bird’s-eye view of the context that I was literally flying over to in Rome. This time, I wouldn’t be watching the events unfold from afar. I was boots on the ground in Rome—no, rather sandals on the ground! A Cardinal of the Roman Church that I know took me directly up to the body of Pope Francis lying in state. I didn’t have to endure 3–4 hours of waiting in line to see the pope’s body. I literally walked in the side door of St. Peter’s Basilica and was given the privilege of praying for 20 minutes close to the body of Pope Francis. That experience of seeing the body of the dead pope convicted me that I didn’t pray for Pope Francis nearly enough while he was alive. Let us always keep the Pope, no matter who it is, in our prayers!
I was blessed with the opportunity to concelebrate the Papal Funeral Mass of Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday. Saying goodbye to Pope Francis and praying for the blessed repose of his soul was much different being present in Rome than during the last few deaths of popes. Hearing the funeral toll of the bell at St. Peter’s Basilica at the end of his funeral Mass was unforgettable. His simple wooden coffin containing his body was picked up at the end of Mass and processed back into St. Peter’s. Those gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Funeral spontaneously clapped as he was carried away. These images are burned into my mind and my heart forever.
I’d like to continue this article in next month’s issue with the election of Pope Leo XIV and my pilgrimage through Portugal, Spain, and France. Please watch our Outside the Friary episodes on our Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word YouTube page. We have completed two episodes that detail our trip through Portugal and Spain. Lourdes and more of France to come! Please watch, subscribe, like, and share these episodes with your family and friends! We take you and your intentions on these pilgrimages and pray for you and your needs. May God bless you, and Mary keep you!