This was a stunning Easter Celebration with the death of Michael Volpe, a beloved friend whom I met on my first Mission in 1956, not quite 70 years ago. He died on early Good Friday, and left us in mourning until early Easter Monday when Pope Francis joined Mike in eternal life. On TV this morning Cardinal Dolan of New York talked about the Conclave in which they elected Pope Francis. Dolan said that they were told at the beginning that the Holy Spirit had already chosen a Pope among them, and it was their task to pray until they were told by the Hol Spirit who to vote for. I really believe that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was a gift from God to us. I also believe that Mike Volpe was a gift of God to us.
We may argue about the miracles of the Bible till the end of time, but I believe the gift of Mike and Bergoglio to us was a miracle. After all, miracle really means “something to marvel at”, “something that seems unbelievable”. But how could you not believe in miracles when you met these men? What a gift they were to us with their kindness, gentleness, above all, quiet overwhelming love?
Pope Francis’s last Encyclical was “Dilexit nos”, that is: “How God loved us” taken from Romans 8. In Romans, Paul says, “God loved us”, but uses the expression dilexit which means God loved us with delight. God is so glad he made us.
The very first talk Francis made when he was elected Pope in 2013, he addressed the entire world in his urbi and orbi blessing which is every Pope’s traditional Blessing to the “city and to the world”, and he cried out simply, “You are all children of God.” That was an infallible statement.
Now I don’t have to go to Rochester, NY any more to see my friend Mike Volpe, neither do I have to fly to Rome to see Pope Francis. Now by the eternal goodness of God, I can talk immediately to them right now in my heart where they will always remain. So be it.
Sal Umana 