To the Late, Most Beloved, Pope Francis: May You Rest in God's Bosom for Eternity

Of course, the two of us never met,

That wasn't destined to be, but yet

You I every now and then got to see,

Spotting you on the Net occasionally.

How endearing was your noble face,

Exuding radiance and childlike grace,

And eyes oh so gentle, filled with love,

A gift, certainly, from the Lord ‘above’.

About you in the media I’d sometimes read,

Greatly impressed by how you sought to lead

By spreading God’s love, and also good cheer,

The Good News the world so needs to hear,

And also speaking out boldly against abuse,

And other such things I'd hear in the news.

I read about Your love for the forlorn,

Your visits to lands by brutal war torn,

About how you washed strangers’ feet,

And got folks of different faiths to meet

So as to learn to live together in amity

And respect their common humanity.

I read some portions of your Laudato Si

And your Document on Human Fraternity,

(These are only some of the great things

You did that to me my mind now brings).

Through these you tried to make it clear

That to protect our earthly home dear,

People of all faiths (and also of none at all)

Must urgently pay heed to the Divine call

And treat our planet with great love and respect

And live in peace, irrespective of religion and sect.

You shone like a gentle, big, bright star,

A beacon of light seen from even afar.

You felt deeply for all the world’s pain,

This world that by hate's going insane.

Such great love with many you shared,

For God’s creatures you so truly cared.

In places torn by hate in religion’s name,

The love of God you did valiantly proclaim.

You critiqued firmly greed and exploitation,

Man’s relentless assault on God’s creation.

For refugees forced to flee their land,

You stretched out your loving hand.

Ancient enemies you sought to reconcile,

Winning the love of millions with your smile

And with your message of love and hope,

What a blessing you were, beloved pope!

I must close now, so I say “Thank you

For all that you were sent on Earth to do

And all the love and hope that you spread,

May your example inspire us in years ahead,

And wherever you may now happen to be,

May you rest in God’s bosom for eternity.”