A Wave From Rome (The Friday Ficks S5 E23)

The Pope turned and waved.

And I swear, just for a second, my mom was there.

Our daughter Sarah was in Rome. Studying abroad. The inaugural Mass for Pope Leo XIV was imminent, and she was thinking of going.

She texted us with a mix of excitement and concern. Big crowds. A foreign city. Uncertain

logistics.

We encouraged her to go, telling her it would be safe. That it would be historic.

What I didn’t say - but what I knew deep down - was that she wouldn’t be going alone. In 1965,

my mother was one of 90,000 faithful who packed Yankee Stadium for the first Papal Mass ever held there, led by Pope Paul VI. She kept the ticket stub for 49 years. I found it in her safe

deposit box after she passed.

Clearly, that moment mattered.

Fast forward to 2015. Pope Francis was coming to The Catholic University of America - my law

school alma mater - for a Papal Mass. In quiet tribute to my mom, I entered the alumni lottery.

To my surprise, I won a seat.

But life, as it does, had other plans. My father-in-law died. The funeral was the same day. I

never made it to the Mass.

Now it was Sarah’s turn. She was hesitant. I was certain. She should go.

Not just because it was a moment in history. But because I had missed mine. And because I

believed - deeply - that her grandmother would go with her.

A dear friend and wise healer, Dr. Tom Garcia, once told me: “You can draw strength from the energy, nature, and spirit of those who came before you.”

I’ve never forgotten those words.

I knew - truly knew - that my mother’s energy, nature, and spirit would be right there with Sarah.

And then it happened.

As the Popemobile passed, the new Pope turned and waved - directly toward Sarah and her

friends.

A wave from Rome.

Maybe - just maybe - my mom dropped in to say hello to her granddaughter.

Who do you draw strength from?

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl