In a corner of the Capellanía school, under the shade of an old tree that was near the orchard, Azahara, Iván, and Marianela sat together. It was a quiet afternoon, but their
hearts were full of questions about the world they saw in the news. Today they were talking about something that worried them a lot: the war in Gaza, the tensions with Russia
and Trump's policies towards migrants. They were very sad about the death of the Pope.
—Did you know that Pope Francis has spoken a lot about Gaza? Marianela asked, looking at her friends.
—Yes —replied Iván—. He said that the suffering of children and families in Gaza is something we should never forget.
That we cannot stand idly by while so much pain occurs. Right, Azahara? Sometimes we are very selfish.
—That's right —said Azahara, looking towards the horizon—. Pope Francis has always spoken of peace, of how we should take care of the most vulnerable. He has taught us that we cannot
speak of peace without working for justice for all, even for those who live in the most distant places.
—That's it! —said Iván—. Francisco said that we must put people at the center of everything, not borders or political interests. Peace is only built with love and
understanding.
Marianela sighed, and with tears in her eyes, she thought about everything the Pope had said about Russia, a topic that had also touched their hearts in recent weeks.
—He also spoke about Russia —continued Marianela—. He said that peace cannot be won with violence, that it doesn't matter how many tanks or planes there are: if there is no dialogue and respect,
there will never be true peace.
Azahara looked at her friends firmly and added:
—And that makes me think about what he said about migrants.
He reminds us that people fleeing war, poverty, or suffering should not be treated as criminals. We cannot let fear or hatred make us forget that we are all equal, that we are all human. That is something we must remember.
—That's right —said Iván, recalling the Pope's words on immigration—. He spoke many times about the need to protect migrants, to give them shelter and dignity. We all deserve to have it. Francisco also showed us that if we close our hearts, we are not being good people.
We have to open our arms to those who need it most! That should not be forgotten.
The three children looked at the sky, thoughtfully, as the sun began to set behind the mountains. Azahara, in her soft voice, shared something more.
—Pope Francis also said that "when women are in charge, things work better." And that makes a lot of sense, because women have always been the ones who take care of the family, the ones who make everything work, even when everything seems to be in chaos.
—Yes —said Iván—. My mom always says that peace begins at home. If we cannot be at peace with those we love most, how are we going to achieve it in the world? Let's start at home first. We would be very hypocritical.
—Exactly! —replied Marianela, and added—: He taught us that we should be like a family. If we fight, we must make peace before going to sleep. "Fight if you want, but don't go to bed without making peace," he said. That seems so beautiful to me, because in the end what matters is that we are always united, and not turn off the light without giving each other a kiss.
Azahara smiled, looking at her friends with affection.
—He taught us to see the world with the eyes of the heart and not to forget those who suffer, he always said that love and peace are the only way to heal the wounds of the world.
The children, full of hope, decided that they wanted to do more for those who were suffering in Gaza, for the migrants fleeing violence, for the women who were sometimes not heard, and for all those who needed peace.
Iván looked at Marianela and Azahara, and said:
—We have to keep learning from him. Francisco never stopped dreaming of a better world. And even though he is no longer among us, his message has to continue.
Marianela, looking towards the sky, added:
—Kisses to heaven, Francisco, for teaching us to love more, to take care of everyone, and to fight for peace. We thank you for those things.
And so, with those words in their hearts, the three friends made a promise: they would continue with the flame of peace that he had left them, no matter the difficulties they might encounter along the way. We will be suns throwing rays of love where there are shadows.
Let us not forget that the smile is the flower of the heart, and that even if we fall a thousand times, the important thing is to be grateful that we will have the possibility to get up, to move forward, and to walk again. But one who does not move for fear of falling, slipping, or making mistakes, will never, ever be fruitful in life, the Pope said spontaneously in the Vatican.
Here I leave some intense and powerful phrases of Pope Francis that reflect his message of love, peace, justice, and hope:
1. "The future of humanity is not in the hands of the powerful, but in the hands of the poor, the humble, those who fight for justice."
2. "Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is an active commitment, the constant work for justice, for equality, for fraternity."
3. "Let us not be afraid of goodness and tenderness. It is love that transforms the world."
Goodbye forever, Jorge Mario. You were the Capellanía that guided millions of hearts.
