“Our Dad Died”: A Father-Daughter Reflection from St. Peter’s Square

On a recent episode of Marriage Unhindered, host Doug Hinderer shared a moving and intimate conversation with his daughter Katie, who happened to be in Rome during the death of Pope Francis. Broadcasting live from within the “arms” of St. Peter’s Square, Katie offered listeners a heartfelt and firsthand account of the atmosphere in the Eternal City.

Doug began the show by acknowledging the sorrow of the Church at the loss of its Holy Father, while also affirming the joyful hope of Heaven. “We’re sad because our father has died… but it’s joyful because of our hope in Heaven,” he said.

Katie, speaking from St. Peter’s, described a vibrant yet reverent scene—crowds of pilgrims and mourners, spontaneous rosaries, candles, and shared prayers. “It feels like a family gathering after a loved one’s wake,” she observed. “There’s sorrow, but there’s also warmth and unity.”

She recounted the surreal moment she first learned of the Pope’s death—on a train to Assisi, of all places, to visit the tomb of St. Francis. The news, seen on a stranger’s phone, spread swiftly in every language. “It just ran through the train cars,” she said. “Suddenly, everyone was talking.”

Katie had attended Holy Week services and witnessed Pope Francis’ final public moments, noting that his frailty was obvious to those present. “He gave what little he had left to be with the people,” she said, adding that it felt like his final farewell.

Doug reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy as “a pope of the people and a pope of mercy,” recalling the Holy Father’s often-quoted exhortation to “smell like the sheep.” Katie added touching details, including the Pope’s permission for homeless people to live within the colonnades of St. Peter’s Square—a gesture of mercy few may have noticed but many will remember.

In a final moment of poignancy, Katie recalled her cab driver’s words: “Our dad died.” It captured what so many in Rome—and around the world—were feeling.

Pope Francis’ legacy of humility, mercy, and love for the marginalized lives on in the hearts of those who mourn him and carry his example forward.

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