Back to the Square... Do You Think I Can Do It?: How We Listen, What We Hear

How well do we listen to others? How well do others listen to us? To what extent does genuine dialogue occur within any given context or situation? Do we focus on accompanying others during times of grief, sorrow, challenges, joys, and celebrations? What are the fruitful learning opportunities that could unfold from intentional silence, listening, sharing, and dialogue within any of our in-person and digital interactions? These are real and valid questions posed throughout society, both as a People of God and as humans in a secular world.

It has been just over a week since I heard of the death of our beloved Pope Francis. A little numb. A little sad. A little uneasy. A little bit of tears. A lot of listening. Surrounding the vast unleashing of details of Francis’ death are the poignant and meaningful words spoken by him to his private nurse just hours before his passing, “Thank you for bringing me back to the square.” Even earlier during the day on Easter Sunday, Francis asked of his nurse, “Do you think I can do it?”(Pope Francis thanked his nurse 'for bringing me back to the square') What does this statement and this question invoke? What meaning exudes from it? What comes to mind when such a statement is made, or question asked? Beyond the shadow of a doubt, in my own mind, both of these lovingly nourish a sense of calling, a sense of family, and a sense of gratitude.

As noted in the magisterial Final Document from the most recent Synod on Synodality, there is a distinct call for a Church with a greater capacity to nurture relationships: with the Lord, between women and men, in family, in local communities, among social groups and religions, with all of creation (no. 50). The desire to intentionally be with others is what exuded from Francis, affectionately and accurately known as “The People’s Pope.” It is from his heartfelt intention that conversions of relationships happen and the acknowledgement of being “on the boat, together” comes to light. Francis knew where he was called to be even in the last hours of his life: with the people, “back to the square.” We are all in this together: life, death, ups, downs, human daily interactions, pathways toward eternal glory with God. That sense of calling is Spirit-driven, and Francis listened.

Additionally, the Final Document also shares what best emerges when we are “on the boat, together” …a sense of family. What comes forth throughout a synodal approach of intently listening and dialoguing with one another, especially within family, is a greater capacity to nurture relationships between all. There is a particular delight that unleashes when the sharing of thoughts takes place and opportunities for voices to be heard are given (no.50). Within the context of this delight, effective learning emerges, and a redirection of priority takes place. In faith, relationships and connections are the means by which God  has revealed God’s self in Jesus and in the Spirit. In this manner, the optimal shared experiences of journeying may be gifted to all and a Church family of grace, understanding, motivation, and support can supersede the strategy or tool for the busy, operational, and organizational details of secular life.

Families are where love, hospitality, and fraternity are formed. It is within families that the first relational conversions may occur between people, generations, communities, and villages (Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life. “Life Is Always a Good: Initiating Processes for Pastoral Care of Human Life,” 8). Families are where a vast plurality of experiences, backgrounds, cultures, knowledge, gender, and generations co-exist. When this plurality is recognized and honored, the true heartbeat of learning, mission, and understanding sounds loudly and clearly for all to relish and experience in both celebratory and challenging times. Francis acknowledged this sense of family among the People of God and even questioned, “Do you think I can do it?” as he listened to his final call of traveling to Saint Peter’s Square. The Spirit affirmed that he could indeed do it with the reassuring response from Francis’ nurse that Easter Sunday. This also serves as an affirmation of the multitude of gifts and talents of our inclusive plurality within the People of God.

Finally, a sense of gratitude unfolds from Francis’ statement of being brought “back to the square” one final time. Our Emmaus brother noted that when he called the People of God to Synod in 2021, that he himself, the Bishop of Rome, was receiving an extraordinary gift. In his final greeting at the close of the Synod in 2024 he stated, “I was aware that I needed you, the Bishops and the (laity) witnesses of the synodal path. Thank you!” This gratitude was unending for Francis, right until the last moments preceding his death. He knew that being brought “back to the square” was the Spirit’s gift: harmony bestowed by the creator of harmony. In the same closing address of the Synod in 2024, Francis also acknowledged, “…the breath of the Risen One helps us to share the gifts we have received…there are places where the Spirit blows, but there is one Spirit who blows in every place…I should like to thank you all; let us thank each other, too.”

During uncertain times, we, as humans, naturally search for direction, for hope, for a pathway to make sense of the uneasiness, the tumult, the chaos, the uncertainty, the confusion, the sadness. French Catholic author and mystic, Madeleine Delbrel, wrote in prayer:

For I think that you may have had enough

of people, who, always, speak of serving you with the look of a leader,

of encountering you with the air of a professor,

of approaching you with sporting regulations,

of loving you as one loves in an aged marriage.

Let us live our life,

Not as a game of chess where everything is calculated,

not as a game where everything is difficult,

not as a theorem that breaks our minds,

but like an endless party where your meeting is renewed,

like a ball,

like a dance,

in the arms of your grace,

in the universal music of love.

Friends, let us reflect upon the melody of Delbrel’s poetic prayer, as we embrace the future days of our Church, as we pray for the eternal rest of our dear Francis, as we journey together as a synodal People of God in calling, in family, and in gratitude.

God’s peace be with you now and always.

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