Ajesh Abraham was among the faithful in St. Peter’s Square - Photo: Ajesh Abraham
I never imagined that my holiday in Rome would become one of the most sacred and memorable moments of my life. This Easter, I found myself standing among the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, basking in the early spring light of Rome and the joy of the Resurrection, attending Easter Mass with my family.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, addressed the crowd after Mass. He appeared frail, yet deeply present - his words filled with that familiar tone of warmth, humility, and conviction. I was privileged to see him up close that morning. His presence, though gentle, carried the weight of a shepherd who had poured out his life for his flock.
The next day, Rome awoke to the heartbreaking news of his passing.
I was stunned. The very voice that had offered blessings just hours before had now been silenced on this side of eternity. Yet in the midst of grief, I was drawn back to St. Peter’s Square - not as a tourist, but as a mourner, one among thousands who came to pay their respects.
Our family made several attempts to visit Pope Francis’ body at St. Peter’s Basilica, but each time we faced four or five hours of waiting in a square overflowing with mourners. Eventually, we gave up and left. On Thursday morning, I woke early and decided to go by myself and join the line. After waiting for just over an hour, I finally had the chance to see his body. It was a profound moment. As I passed by his body lying in state, it felt as though the entire Earth stood still for a moment to remember the man who had helped reshape the heart of the Church.
I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Pope Francis was not just a leader - he lived as a shepherd and a living expression of the Gospel. For Columbans, his papacy was a mirror of their mission. From his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s, when he asked the world to pray for him, Pope Francis invited everyone to serve with humility and to walk with the poor, the outcast, and the Earth itself. He embodied what it meant to "smell like the sheep" - that deep pastoral closeness that the Columban mission has long cherished.
Columban Fr. Andrei O. Paz, our Society Leader, captured this sentiment perfectly when he wrote, “From the moment he appeared on the balcony... he showed us a way of being, serving, and listening that brought him into intimate and tender relationship with each person - and with the Earth itself - especially with those who suffered most.”
This way of being deeply resonated with me.
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis lit the path for mission through his powerful teachings - Evangelii Gaudium, Laudato Si’, and Fratelli Tutti. These weren’t just documents; they were calls to action. They became foundation stones for how Columbans live their vocation. Whether it was responding as a “field hospital” in moments of crisis or building bridges of friendship across faiths and cultures, his leadership gave fresh energy and direction to the mission. I witnessed this in communities across the world where Columbans serve- where his words were not just quoted, they were lived.
As I left St. Peter’s that morning, a deep peace settled in me. Though we mourn, we do not grieve without hope. Pope Francis’s legacy is one of mercy, courage, and revolutionary tenderness. We now carry that flame forward.
The Pope’s final blessing, offered on Easter morning, feels even more profound now. It was a gift - a parting benediction not only to the Church gathered in Rome, but to the world he so loved and served. He knew his time was near, yet he stood and spoke, as always - not from a place of power, but from the heart of a servant.
As we continue our journey as Columbans, I feel an even deeper calling to embody the vision Pope Francis championed: to be near the suffering, to care for ecology, to build peace with justice, and to listen - to truly listen - to the Spirit moving in the margins.
May we all, in our own ways, smell like the sheep.
Ajesh Abraham is a Columban co-worker at the Columban Mission Centre in Essendon
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