Sister Mary Scullion shares special connection to Pope Francis ahead of papal funeral
Sister Mary Scullion has met with several popes, but Pope Francis stood out.
"For Pope Francis' funeral, if there's any funeral I would want to be at, it's this one," Sister Mary said.
Pope Francis, who died on Monday at age 88, was a longstanding advocate for the poor, refugees and migrants. He was dubbed the "pope of the peripheries" by some.
Having spent years advocating for the homeless and founding Project HOME in Philadelphia, Sister Mary says she shared a special connection with this pope in particular.
"He was a pope for people who are unsheltered, for immigrants, for people who are suffering, for children," Sister Mary said. "So he is our pope, and that gave us all such energy, such affirmation and renewed our commitment."
It's a connection that only deepened when Pope Francis visited Philadelphia in 2015. During that trip, the pontiff stopped to bless the Knotted Grotto. The art installation saw people write down their struggles and prayers on the strands, tie a knot and hang it for someone else to untie it.
The installation was an homage to one of Pope Francis' favorite paintings, "Mary, Undoer of Knots."
During the visit, Sister Mary had the opportunity to hug the pope and speak with him briefly. It's a moment she says she'll always treasure, and one that was unlike any other meeting she's had with a pope before.
"I think what was so special about Pope Francis' visit and the encounter that we had was that it was around the grotto," Sister Mary said. "It wasn't in a formal setting, it was right there on the streets, 20th street, and it was symbolic of the whole community."
Asked about what she remembered from the pontiff's visit to Philadelphia nearly 10 years ago, Sister Mary said it was the joining of all sorts of people together.
"It was a time when people all came together, people from all faiths, all walks of life, we were one. We were there to honor a man whose humility and compassion and search for justice ignited in us that same passion," Sister Mary said. "I hope that his death reignites that as well."
Sister Mary will now leave for Rome, having been invited by friends to attend the papal funeral. The pontiff is currently lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica as thousands of people from around the world line up to pay their respects.
Sister Mary says she thinks the funeral will be a moment of mourning for the man they lost, but also a celebration of Pope Francis, who she believes will be remembered for his humility and humanity.
"I'm looking forward to join with people from all over our world to celebrate and thank a man who was such a voice for compassion, and such a challenge to all of us to build a just and inclusive community," Sister Mary said. "And to be part of that community means everything to me."
While she does not plan to stay for the conclave and the choosing of the next pope, Sister Mary did offer some of what she hopes to see. She says she hopes to see someone who will "follow in Francis' footsteps."
