Crux Editor John Allen: Pope Francis’ ‘Papacy Was All About Proximity to the People from Beginning to the End’

EXCERPT:

ALLEN: “Well, Nate, I have to admit, I was completely astonished. You know, yesterday, watching that scene unfold in St. Peter's Square, where for the first time since that 38-day hospitalization when Pope Francis was battling double pneumonia, we saw him astride the Popemobile and making one of those triumphant swings through St. Peter's Square, greeting the faithful who had assembled to see him on Easter Sunday. You know, we all thought this was his triumphant comeback. As it turned out, of course, it was his triumphant farewell. But I think it probably was precisely the way Pope Francis would have scripted his exit. His papacy was all about proximity to the people from beginning to the end. This was a pope who wanted to break down barriers.”