Pope Fran is back on the blog! Or rather my correspondence with His Holiness, albeit one-sided, for now.  I was inspired to chat him up about my memoir after seeing the Netflix film, “The Two Popes.” I haven’t contacted him in years so I doubt he will remember me, which is good. I don’t want to come across stalkerish.

Just mailing the book was an adventure. I think this was the first time the postal worker sent anything to the pope.

Yes I Did!

“What? His last name is His Holiness?” she asks, looking at the address label with knitted eyebrows.

“That’s how he’s supposed to be addressed. I googled it.” I respond. “I didn’t know either.”

“What country? There is no country?” She asks.

“Vatican City is its own country. I googled that too.”  She stares at me in disbelief.

“Vatican City is in Italy, but it’s its own country.” Her computer is blinking in the empty space for country.

“Can you write Italy on the package?”

“Sure, but it isn’t correct. Can you plug Vatican City into the country?”

Tap, tap, tap.

“Oh. It worked!  The package will arrive in ten days.”

“Great. We’ll see if I hear back. Ha, ha.”

It’s worth a shot, just like the two copies of my memoir I sent to Oprah and the two I sent to Gail King, in separate envelopes of course.  You would all know if I received any invitations.

Anyway, I thought you might enjoy the note I sent with the signed copy of my book to Pope Fran. He’s in good company with all of you.;-)

January 17, 2020

His Holiness, Pope Francis,

I hope you are doing well and still feeling passionate about your position. The world is desperate for a diplomatic and wise leader to remind us kindness and honesty exist. Thank you for giving us hope.

After seeing the film, “The Two Popes,” I was inspired to write to you. Did you see it? I thought Johnathan Pryce was “priceless” and hope you were happy with his portrayal of you.  Fingers crossed he will win best actor. I don’t know how true to life the story is, but I was particularly touched by the “coincidently” planned meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and you. Divine intervention?

I like to believe a higher power brought you together for the greater good. I’m sure it’s not the only time you felt “someone” had other plans for you, as the movie indicated. With this happy accident in mind, I wanted to share a story of a multitude of miracles showered upon my husband and me after his terrible cycling accident nine years ago. I was driven to tell the story and finally did it in a memoir. It’s a happy ending, hence the title: Alive and Fixable.

Anyway, in your spare time, you might enjoy a flip through. It’s not literature, but you will be in good company if you decide to break from weightier material. One of the ministers from my church based a sermon on the chapter “Big Chi.” I was so humbled; I’m sure I was the pinkest parishioner in the pew. The biggest surprise of all was to hear from my gardener, “Hey, I read your book.” Miguel has maintained the beauty of our yard since the accident when my husband couldn’t. He quoted so many parts of the book I know he read it; my heart swelled.

Keep being a light in our world!

Yours sincerely,

Frances (Francie) Low

P.S. I think the chapter entitled “Cyclists and Saints” will strike your fancy. 😉