Pope Francis died on Monday. Not being Roman Catholic, his death didn’t impact me emotionally, but it brought back memories of 2018, when I heard him speak in St Peter’s Square.

It was Easter Sunday morning, the annual Urbe et Orbe (City and the World) sermon, kind of like an American State of the Union address. Seven years later, I don’t remember what he said – but I have difficulty remembering last Sunday’s sermon, so that isn’t too surprising.

Yesterday I looked at my photos of the event, Unlike earlier visits to Rome, I was traveling light. No camera, just my phone. The crowd is in my pictures, but I don’t see the Pope.

There was something special about spending Easter Sunday morning in that square. Probably the only location more storied for the day would have been in Jerusalem. Maybe I don’t remember the words because I was too busy soaking up the location.

As with any Pope, people have mixed feelings about Francis’ papacy. It will be a few years before we can have perspective.

There will be a lot of pomp and ceremony over the next week or so, then will come the conclave that will choose a new pope, leader of a church with more than a billion members. It is supposed to be a spiritual position, but there is a lot of politics involved.

Do the cardinal electors want a pastor to meet the spiritual needs of the world’s Roman Catholics, or an administrator who will bring the church into the 21st century? Or is there someone who can be both?

There will be a lot of drama. The media speculation will be endless. Perhaps it will be a welcome change from the political babble and Hollywood schlock that makes up so much of our news.

I admit I will be following it closely. The Pope is an important world leader, maybe the most important. I am curious as to who will fill the role next.