Presentation Sisters remember Pope Francis

Source: Presentation Sisters

Sr Anne Lyons PBVM writes:

Pope Francis declared the foundress of the Presentation Order, Nano Nagle, Venerable seven months after he became Pope, on 31 October 2013. This is the second stage on the road to Sainthood. I had the privilege of meeting him in the context of my role as Postulator for the cause - most recently for a third audience last November (pictured). A postulator is the person who guides a cause for beatification or canonisation through the judicial processes required by the Church.

Postulators have a three day annual conference in Rome and Pope Francis met us the following day. He drew on the theme of the Postulators' Convention in his address, which was: " Non c'e amore piu grande.....Greater love than this..." Pope Francis then gave his Apostolic Blessings and met each Postulator in the Clementine Hall in the Vatican.

I chose to think of this and my previous two opportunities as not 'meeting' Pope Francis - rather encounters with him, where he listened as I shared on Venerable Nano Nagle, and then spoke of his need for prayers.

My sense was of being in the presence of a human, humble and holy man whose handshake was firm and warm, and who both smiled and laughed easily.

I treasure these sacred memories.

Prayer for the Cause of Nano:

O God, Who enkindled in the heart of your servant, Nano Nagle, the fire of your love, and a consuming desire to serve You in any part of the world, grant that we also may love You, and make you much loved. And if it be for the glory of God, and the salvation of souls, grant that soon she may be raised to the altars of your Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Sr Susan Richert PBVM adds:

As Vicar for Religious in the Nottingham diocese, I met Pope Francis in 2016 at a conference in Rome. It was a most memorable occurrence - a true encounter - one that needed no words; everything was said to each other by smiling eyes and a firm handshake. I certainly got the feeling that during those few minutes, I was the only one in the conference hall.

His warmth and friendship had the sense that we were brother and sister in the Lord and was especially incredible since I was one of the last among 200 to meet with him.

He spoke to us of Religious Life and about the importance of our ministry of care for the Religious in our Dioceses. When I returned home, my father, who at this stage was almost confined to bed, had told everyone I had gone to Rome to meet the Pope - little did he know his words were to come true!

The picture of myself meeting Pope Francis was put up on the wall near his bed so he could see it.