Pope Francis Has Passed: A Momentary Reflection

Maureen O'Brien | 04/21/2025

Upon this morning's sorrowful news, I reflected on the words of Pope Francis from five years ago. All alone in Peter's Square, the rain falling upon him in the time of the pandemic, he spoke to the empty city of Rome: "We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented...all of us now together". A camera at that time filmed a nearby crucifix, focusing on a wet nail hammered in Christ's palm as a flying creature lifted its wings. The call of the gull broke through.

Today let us be still, all of us together in the boat, as the call of the gull breaks through.

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About the Author

Maureen O'Brien

Maureen O’Brien is the author of two spiritual memoirs from Franciscan Media: “What Was Lost: Seeking Refuge in the Psalms” and the most recent, “Gather the Fragments: My Year of Finding God’s Love” She can be found on Instagram at maureen_obrien_writer.