POPE Francis died a day after Easter Sunday. Using artificial intelligence, I searched for the top descriptions from online obituaries about him. Here were the results:
Top 8 descriptions: “Pope Francis, who died at 88, was the first South American pope and known for his informal style and humility. He modernized the papacy, emphasizing inclusivity and social justice, while also facing criticism from traditionalists within the Church. His papacy was marked by a commitment to interreligious dialogue and addressing global issues like climate change. Francis was recognized for his approachable demeanor and efforts to connect with the marginalized. He had a unique background, having worked as a nightclub bouncer and being a skilled tango dancer. His leadership style was characterized by a rejection of the trappings of power, often dressing simply and engaging directly with people. Throughout his tenure, he advocated for the poor and challenged economic inequalities. His death followed a series of health issues, including a recent hospitalization for pneumonia.”
Top 1 description: “Pope Francis, who died at 88, was a humble reformer known for his commitment to social and economic justice, as well as his urgent response to the climate crisis, marking a significant shift in the Catholic Church’s approach under his leadership.”
Even with just one sentence, we can learn from his life and the things that ought to be valued while one is living: humility, justice, environment, openness to change. Beyond that, we get a glimpse of the man, his roots and his talents, his ailments and his opponents.
In 2017, TedTalks featured a guy who spent 20 months studying 2,000 obituaries in the New York Times. He and his team picked out the words that kept on leaping from the pages, words that can teach us about the character and life of a person, famous or otherwise. The top word was “help.”
New York Times obituaries talk about deaths which the paper believes will make news around the world — usually three out of 155,000 deaths in a day — and the paper does this not to honor the persons who died but to give the story that made such persons significant, like when they help out others.
In the Philippines, print newspapers used to dedicate a lot of space for obituaries. These were more of a public service announcement and not anecdotal, and therefore less colorful and emotional, functioning more as a notice to the community and pretty straightforward with details about the wake and funeral.
There was something endearing about the whole thing. A black and white photograph of the deceased, a roll call of names within the immediate lifeline, an invitation by the family — even to the extent of paying for a small newspaper space — for anyone wishing to say their goodbyes.
Perhaps it reflected our culture, that in life just as in grief and in mourning, we move not as individuals but as a unit, be it family or community. No list of traits, jobs, and awards. No purpose to inspire and educate. No need for acknowledgment and praises. None of the hero’s journey.
Perhaps those were best heard eye to eye especially if coming from mourners sharing a kinship, offering solace to one another in a space that is safe and welcoming.
Pope Francis was buried on April 26, and the official mourning period, lasting for nine days, started on the same day. In the meantime, 135 cardinals, including three from the Philippines, are expected to elect the replacement who would continue helping the world.
Amidst the mourning and the voting, it is hard to imagine what those cardinals are going through. Held up in a “secret meeting” — its Latin phrase is “cum clave” — we can only wonder if they can weep and scream, if they have that space to fall apart and tell other people about their sorrow and whatever fears they are carrying./PN
