Pope Memories, April 28, 2025 religious content 634 words

After the death of Pope Frances, I realized I have memories of seven popes. I was too young to recall Pope Pious XII. I do have a memory of Pope John XXIII . There were stories in the Catholic Treasure Chest comic book. Short, Stocky, always smiling, he reminded me of my grandfathers rather than the head of the church. One story told about the pope feeling sorry for the Swiss guards who carried him in the raised throne in the crowds. He petitioned the Vatican to pay the guards extra because of his weight.
Pope Paul VI served as Pope from 1963 to 1978. He was the first pope to visit six continents. He was a scholar and wrote many encyclicals on a variety of subjects. He was pope when I was a teen and young adult. Many young Catholics rejected the doctrine of the use of any contraception. Like many woman, I used some form of birth control to avoid pregnancy.
Pope Paul was the last pope to have a coronation.
In 1978, Pope John Paul the 1st was in the papacy for only 33 days before suffering a fatal heart attack. He opted to use a motor vehicle referred to as the pope mobile rather than be carried in a raised throne.
Pope John Paul II was elected pope in the fall of 1978. At 58, he was one of the youngest popes in recent times. He served as pope for 26 years. I remember him for traveling, he visited 103 countries. There is a story told about John Paul when he was bishop of Krakow . He would escape his duties to ski. He was known as the daredevil of Tetra Mountains. One story related the bishop skied across the boarder and was detained. He was released after he was recognized. He was the first Polish pope.
Benedict XVI was pope from 2005 until he abdicated in 2013 due to illness. He died in 2022 at age 95. He was member of the ruling body of the church. He was part of the second Vatican counsel in the 1960’s.
Pope Frances was elected to the Papacy in 2013 and served for 12 years. He was a pastoral pope. He was the most comfortable serving the marginalized and migrant populations. He was the first pope to be from South America. He lived a simple life choosing not to live in the palace.His stone says the single word Frances in latin.
He changed the clothing of the papacy, making the robes and extras such as the staff, miter not used. Pope Frances often wore only a pileolus . He was seen giving rides in the pope mobile. Before an audience, he was told the 90 year old mother of an interpreter was ill. He started to give her the anointing of the sick. The son worried about the pope’s schedule and reminded him that people were waiting. The pope replied, “They can wait.”
Even his burial place was nontraditional. He is being buried outside Vatican City in the Basilica of Mary Major. It was reported he often prayed before the icon of of Mary before He would travel. Pope Frances toured the basilica to select his tomb site. He found a nook serving as a storage area for extra candelabras. This will do for my burial.”
136 cardinals will meet to select the new pope in a conclave that must meet starting in the first week of May. Italians say a fat pope is followed by a thin pope. A tall pope is followed by a short pope. The Sistine Chapel is being readied. A metal floor will protect the marble and prevent listening devices from being used. The cardinals will be sequestered until they elect the next pope. It is in God’s hands.