In Loving Commemoration of Pope Francis and Aunt Bernice

Colleen Akiko
May 19
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

"Pope Francis and Bernice took the same flight out."

Prologue:

I first shared this on the We Be the Change podcast, not long after Easter. We'd been enduring one of those challenging road trips that leaves you physically tired and emotionally raw. While we were driving to southern Illinois, we got word that Aunt Bernice, my second mom, had passed. The next day, we heard the news about Pope Francis.

Grief doesn’t care if you’re on the road. It comes along for the ride.

Now that we’re home and I’ve had a little space to reflect, it feels right to share this here too. Some stories need room to settle in. And maybe, if you’re carrying something too, this will meet you where you are.

You can hear Colleen Akiko's song inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi by clicking HERE — You can hear Colleen Akiko's song inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi by clicking **HERE**

Inspired by the timeless words of Saint Francis of Assisi, I offer this song, Peace Prayer, as a musical healing balm in the earthly loss of Pope Francis. May his radiant example of kindness, compassion and true leadership continue lighting our way through the volatility of our times.

Easter was my Aunt Bernice's last earthly day of life. She was 95 years young; a beautiful artist and the matriarch of our family. I'll be soon be sharing an animated conversation with her that I recorded for the We Be The Change podcast and blog.

Bernice Strawn, a 95 years young Colorado artist, passed shortly after receiving Pope Francis' Easter Blessing in her hospital room. Pope Francis passed a few hours later on Easter Monday morning.

A lifelong Catholic believer, Bernice was blessed in her last hours to receive the Pope's Easter Blessing through the mass on her hospital room TV. The poignant, sacred timing holds my heart in awe. As one cousin puts it, "Pope Francis and Bernice left on the same flight."

May we honor the Christ-ness of Pope Francis by embodying his inspiring Easter blessing's words of peace, freedom and compassion. May we live in utter gratefulness as instruments of God's peace.

Like Bernice.

I Am Thy instrument of peace

Where there is hatred, I sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there’s despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, Joy

O Divine may I not so much seek

To be consoled as to console

To be understood as to understand

To be loved as to love