Helmerson: Sleep well, dear grandfather and friend from Lund

We call him « the Holy Father », but I usually say that as a Catholic I see the pope as old grandfather in the family. He can say things that make us shudder and ashamed. To other family members, we can utter engaged things about him. But if any outsider attacks him, we go to angrily defense. Somewhere we love him.

Francis felt like my own pope. Sometimes I wrote annoyed about him, like when he said stupidity about Russia’s war. Once I met him. Some would object to « met » is very said, but when he visited Lund for an ecumenical fair I had a good place in the church, near the gate. He passed me at some meter. I took a picture, as you do when a rock star suddenly breathes the same air as you yourself.

Barking at people because they love the wrong person or because they missed the Sunday fair you can always do later.

Someone said we will not remember this pope for what he said but for what he did. I don’t agree. I will not forget his statement about the church as a field hospital, where they first care for the most severely injured. I interpret it as that when there is a desperate person who says she has lost her footing and God, then the church should be there, with all her heart. Barking at people because they love the wrong person or because they missed the Sunday fair you can always do later, if you find it necessary and if time is given.

« Who am I to judge? » said the Pope too. I think that echoes Jesus, who says to the sister: « I also don’t judge you. » And by the saint Thérèse by Lisieux: « Tout est grâce » – everything is grace.

Any hour after the fair I walked near Lund’s cathedral. A black car card came slowly. Behind a box I thought I recognized my face. I crossed myself and bowed. I think he gave me a cross mark back, or he waved.

I became strangely excited, began to whistle or dumb as you do when there are too many emotions. Then I went home to my hotel.

Read more bouts by Helmerson, for example, that the world does not get better by the fact that you are a bore.