Pope Francis 1936 – 2025.
In the 1990’s I had the opportunity to visit the Vatican City in Rome to see its beautiful artworks including Michelangelo’s astonishing fresco’s in the Sistine Chapel , it all made a great impression upon me.
So when Pope Francis was elected in 2013, I made this small celebratory painting , if I am honest, it was mostly because he had taken the name of St Francis of Assisi , a Saint I much admired and who’s life was so beautifully recorded in the fresco’s of Giotto . His story telling works in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, had caught my imagination as a very small child , seen in a book my Grandmother had by her bed, faded and battered I still have it .
When I finally visited the Basilica, its quiet beauty brought tears to my eyes . Giotto’s other important Frescos about St Francis are in the Bardi Chapel of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence , a place of happy memories I have mentioned in other blogs.
On Easter Monday like many others, I felt as though a light had gone out on hearing Pope Francis had passed away.
He had spoken up for so many people with no voice . Highlighted the impact of rich nations on poor countries, and the disasters that climate change brings. He asked us all, to take care of Mother Earth.
As the head of the Catholic church, he spent that time trying to make the world a fairer , more understanding and kinder place with his humility and humanity.
RIP ….. A new chapter begins.