Does Pope Francis Have You Weeping?

Pope Francis has died, and I have a regret. Early on in his pontificate, I wanted to write a book with his face on the cover. At the time, everyone seemed to be coming out with a book on the “Francis effect” or one or more aspects of the first pope from the Americas. More than one publisher had talked with me about the possibility of writing something about — or adjacent to — him. I never did. Truth be told: I think I killed all discussions with my buzzkill of a proposed title: “Why Is This Man Weeping?”

I think the pope would have been into my Debbie Downer–ing. Sure, he wrote an exhortation about the joy of the Gospel. But he was constantly, especially in the earlier years of his time on the global stage as the most recognizable spiritual leader alive, talking about weeping.