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Pope Francis, Your Recent Replies, Rome, and Some Nice Finds!
April 25, 2025
Thanks for the messages about our note we wrote late in the night.
Here’s one of my favorite replies, copied in its entirety!
From earlier this morning, while we were in France:
“Oh, Rob!
On Easter Sunday, serving at our parish, we were all happy to see Pope Francis attend Vatican Easter services, all believing that albeit slowly, he was on the way to recovery.
That afternoon, after all the excitement of the egghunts subsided, I asked my 6 year-old granddaughter to decorate envelopes for me to send to you. She was so excited to do so because I explained what it was all about -- I said that special people were going to get surprise gifts from the Vatican because you were going to be there for an important occasion. I told her that you were like attending a really important and holy party, and you will be sharing your loot bag! ;) This is why her drawings were pretty much "biblical"
I was going to send them out yesterday, until I woke up to the news of the Pope's passing -- and YOU were the first person (and your team) that I thought of!
I'm very saddened by his departure but consoled that he truly celebrated a HAPPY EASTER!”
**** Needless to say, that was a beautiful note to receive! I hope you liked reading it.
Another Message…. On the day of the news about Pope Francis, I was searching for vintage medals in nearby Pern Le Font, France, and found several. Minutes later, my phone vibrated with the sad news. But before that ....
I uncovered several vintage Miraculous Medals, and many others, some are photographed below - after I found my favorite medal collector, Marisa, in Avignon, France, who is pictured above! She had actually set aside some vintage designs for me, knowing I'd be back in 2025. We have known each other for years. She's such a delightful person. If we're as young as we feel when we get together, we are both 10 years-old!
The medals she sold are now available and several others too, photographed here and pictured below. They’re listed on the web site, or will be very, very soon and we’ll send them out to you upon our return to New Orleans. After we give a gentle cleaning, you'll still see that some of her medals and finds must be 100 years old! We look forward to passing them along.
We have rearranged our trip and will be in Rome today for the funeral. Pope Francis I often used irony at times when he exercised particular professional duties. Majestic performances and ostentation was not his "thing." None of us like all the things we are required to do…. His final event will surely be epically proportioned. Pope Francis, you truly deserve an over-the-top send-off!
Pope Francis preferred meeting with ordinary people, his flock, curiously like the flock on the pectoral cross he always wore. He was captivated by listening to peoples' plights and concerns. He relished being the Peoples’ Pope. He loved his Synods, where people spoke, and then quiet was required, so words sank in and were truly delivered. No rush of a text, no quick replies allowed, listening was the goal of his Synods. Truly listening, with no quick comebacks. Then he presented an improved synod, called the "Synod on Sydonality!" Listening and listening and waiting for thoughts and more thoughts, allowing growth, encouraging understanding.... Pope Francis I and his two Synods, where everyone had a seat at the table, and every voice was heard; these will be part of his lasting legacies.
We so looked forward to seeing the all the joyful kids for Carlo Acutis. Joyous exuberance, fun and frolicking, kids, "kids being kids," and steeped in the true meaning of Faith. It would have been so inspiring to capture their essence, their being, and in pictures to see and share with you!
Now we go to a funeral instead. ("Isn't it ironic? Don't you think? A little too ironic, yeah, I really do think." - Alanis Morisette) This is life. In a split second, everything changes. What happens when you rely so much on your plans? God laughs. As we reschedule and rearrange our trip, we've offered a few ironic thoughts; here's anther, a quote from the “Grateful Dead." It's actually the name of their album, so it's more of an anthem for life:
“ What a long, strange trip it’s been!”
August 18, 1977
Stay tuned and …
This is the bottom line, for today!
Rob Clemenz, Founder
www.SaintsforSinners.com
www.SaintsforHOPE.com
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