Transitions: Personal and papal

Abstract

VATICAN CORRESPONDENT'S NOTE In April, I mourned with Catholics around the world when Pope Francis died. Amidst the turmoil of reporting on his death, legacy and the steps that would follow, it wasn't until I stood before his open casket in St. Peter's Basilica that it dawned on me: the late pope's humor, gregariousness and spontaneity would no longer be an active part of my daily life. Few figures can summon attention across borders and cultures as the pope can.