I was shocked and saddened at hearing about His Holiness's Pope Francis's passing this morning. In this article, I'll provide some personal notes on Pope Francis's final speeches, followed by a dedication of a Psalm and final prayer for the eternal rest of his soul.
For the past few months, the Pope's health was deteriorating at an alarming rate. Attacked by a violent episode of acute respiratory failure some time ago, and not forgetting his type II diabetes and arterial hypertension, the Pope was severely weakened. And now today, April 21st, 2025, at 7:35 a.m. (Rome time), His Holiness passed away.
I wanted for all of us to remember his legacy in his own words:
"The Lord now lives forever" (Urbi & Orbi)1
Dear brothers and sisters,
In the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, death and life contended in a stupendous struggle, but the Lord now lives forever (cf. Easter Sequence). He fills us with the certainty that we too are called to share in the life that knows no end, when the clash of arms and the rumble of death will be heard no more. Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can make all things new (cf. Rev. 21:5)!
Happy Easter to everyone! (Francis, 2025)
His Prophetic Homily2
When Christ died for us on the cross, He did so out of love. Love for us, the human race, and love of the Father. On the third day, He rose from the dead. Christ rose precisely to give us hope, a glimpse into what awaits for us in heaven: Life eternal. In Christ, we are made anew, we are liberated, rejuvenated, and given everlasting peace. Peace, not of this world, but that of which only the Son of God can provide.
As Pope Franics (2025) mentions: "With you, everything begins again."
The Simplicity and Humility Worthy of a Pope
Reading His Holiness's testament,3 one cannot help but think of St. Peter, especially when he writes: "The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus." (Francis, 2025b)
If we take a look at the tomb of the Apostle of The Lord and first Pope, one won't see any fancy decoration surrounding it. I believe that the late Pontiff's choice is not only befitting of his own personal tesimony of poverty and humility, shown from the very beginning of his reign, but it also imitates St. Peter's grave, in that both are simple enough to be decorated mainly by the name of whom occupies it, or rather, will occupy it, as in the case of Pope Francis.
A Dedication of Psalm 1
To the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, but rather delighted in the teaching of the Lord:
(א) אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּעֲצַ֢ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב׃ (ב) כִּ֤י אִ֥ם־בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יהוה חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃ (ג) וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֢וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י־מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨וֹ ׀ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתּ֗וֹ וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ׃ (ד) לֹא־כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃ (ה) עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ לֹא־יָקֻ֣מוּ רְ֭שָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים בַּעֲדַ֥ת צַדִּיקִֽים׃ (ו) כִּֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ יהוה דֶּ֣רֶךְ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְדֶ֖רֶךְ רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃ {פ}
(1) Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked,or taken the path of sinners,or joined the company of the insolent; (2) rather, the teaching of the LORD is his delight,and he studiesaOr “recites”; lit. “utters.” that teaching day and night. (3) He is like a tree planted beside streams of water,which yields its fruit in season,whose foliage never fades,and whatever bOr “he does prospers.”it produces thrives.-b (4) Not so the wicked;rather, they are like chaff that wind blows away. (5) Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment,nor will sinners, in the assembly of the righteous. (6) For the LORD cherishes the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Final Prayer For The Eternal Repose Of The Soul Of Pope Francis
Requiem aeternam dona eo, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eo. Requiescat in pacem. Amen
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,and let perpetual light shine upon him.May he rest in peace. Amen.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Francis. (2025a, April 20). “Urbi et orbi” - Easter 2025 | Francis. The Holy See. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/20250420-urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html
2. Francis. (2025b, April 21). Testament of the Holy Father Francis | Francis. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2025/april/documents/20250421-testamento-francesco.html
3. Franics. (2025, April 20). Easter Sunday - Mass of the Day (20 April 2025) | Francis. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250420-omelia-pasqua.html