Kiev and Gaza, the hope of a double miracle

Rome's distinguishing trait is that it has survived the centuries by getting used to everything: the glory and defeat of emperors, the rise to the throne and fall of kings, the power of governments and swift Caporettos, the appointment and death of popes. But yesterday was different. The crowd tribute paid at the funeral of Pope Francis and the ceaseless parade to pay his last respects will remain in the history of the city and the world. A river of spontaneous mobilisation that is difficult to translate into truly reliable official numbers: over 400,000, but calculating them was almost impossible and they were probably even more. What remains are emblematic images and the memory of a Pope who was certainly divisive but much loved, who was the protagonist of a turning point in the name of a Church close to the poor, to the last of the earth.

The most symbolic images of all are that of the shoes, worn, with which he wished to be buried, and the hearse, truly essential. For choices similar to these, Catholics and non-believers alike loved him and wanted to witness him in his last act, accompanying him to the end of the line. Certainly, in an era characterised by a glaring lack of leadership, he was a leader who was able to foresee, more than ten years ago, that humanity was heading for what he called a third world war. He preached peace in a time of ferocious wars. And he did it with absolute determination, earning love and respect. The hope is that, also in his memory, a double miracle may happen: peace in two tormented lands, Ukraine and Palestine.