An elegy for a cleric who embodied his gospel
Manhattan: In a time of war, he offered peace / In a time of hate, he offered love / A kind and gentle, humble man / Who now will bless us from above / Pope Francis touched the hearts and lives of many / He lived a faithful, simple life / And focused on the poor and needy / Tried to eliminate poverty and strife.
He worked as a bouncer and a janitor / This man who would be pope / Left a legacy of good and mercy / Provided us with love and hope / Pope Francis traveled the world / He comforted the sick and poor / Championed immigrants and refugees / Warm and gentle to his core.
“Who am I to judge?” he asked / When referring to the LGBTQ community / Offering respect to all / A shining example to you and me / Visited prisoners / Called for humanity / Spread blessings and faith / Spoke against brutality.
He was on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine / Shining a beacon of light to lead the way / We mourn this most beloved pope / We are feeling so sad today / Pope Francis gave his loving message / On Easter Sunday / Then sadly left us / On Easter Monday / His last day on Earth was spent blessing the people / Offering love and joy / Responding to the adoring crowd / Every woman, man, girl and boy.
This heavenly soul / Is home at last / At 88 years old / This man of peace has passed. Phoebe Celentano
Back to basics
Richmond Hill: RIP Pope Francis. I pray that in the coming conclave, the cardinals will elect a more traditional pontiff, restore the Latin Mass and roll back some of the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council — a pope more like Benedict XVI. God bless and guide the hands of those voting for the next pontiff, and bless the next to sit in the Chair of Saint Peter. Joseph Napoleone
Essential levity
Manhattan: “Funny people love the Mets.” That’s what Ron Darling said during Monday’s Mets-Cardinals game (Mets won 7-4 and secured a four-game sweep) right after Steve Gelbs interviewed a surprisingly passionate fan, John Oliver (who knew?). It got me thinking: Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Kimmel — and now Oliver — all self-declared diehard Mets fans. That can’t be a coincidence. If you know, you know: Being a Mets fan teaches you resilience, patience, humor and hope. Honestly, those qualities are what we need to survive and thrive in today’s nonprofit sector, public policy work and higher education. We work long hours, chase uncertain outcomes and stick with it because we’re dedicated to the mission and believe the next inning could change everything. Let’s go Mets! Brian MacColl
Best of the best
St. Albans: I think Willie Mays is the greatest all-around player in baseball history. He led the National League in stolen bases for four consecutive years. He hit 660 career home runs. Mays won 11 Gold Glove Awards and was MVP in 1954 and 1965. He had a .302 lifetime batting average and 3,283 career hits. In my opinion, he was without a doubt the greatest all-around baseball player. Leslie Langer
Pleasant memories
Massapequa, L.I.: To Voicer Frederick R. Bedell Jr.: You wrote about growing up in Queens Village. I am probably 10 years older than you, living about eight blocks north of you on 213th St. and 93rd Ave., did the same things as you and knew all the landmarks you talked about. You left out the two ice cream parlors, Schumacker’s on 212th St. and Jamaica Ave. and Winter’s on 218th St. and Jamaica Ave. How about Wayander Park on Hollis Ave.? Do you remember the LIRR coal locomotives belching out all that black smoke? I also played baseball, softball and stickball (do kids even know that game today?) in the schoolyard at P.S. 109. You could go to bed with the front door open in the ’50s. Not today. Your letter brought back all those good memories. Thanks, Fred. Ron Boehning
Fruits of his labor
Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.: New York State Sen. Pete Harckham of District 40, who voted along with disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo for and facilitated the shutting of Indian Point, is now gaslighting his constituents about the out-of-control energy costs he created. Harckham is falsely claiming that he and the Consumer Utility Protections During Investigations Act will now miraculously protect our district from the egregious energy cost increases heading our way. He uses terms like “creating, limiting, strengthening, requiring and modernizing,” to name a few, without explaining how any of his proposals will save us dime one. Too bad for Harckham, the horse has already left the barn as we face yet another rate hike from Con Edison. His announcements do nothing to reduce energy costs and won’t do anything to help lower-income New Yorkers already struggling to pay their bills. Michael P. Devine
Earlier terror
Briarwood: On 1010 WINS on Saturday, I kept hearing that it was the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. It was characterized as the worst act of domestic terrorism in the U.S.A. Sunday’s Daily News had an Associated Press article saying the same things. Granted, it was an absolutely horrific act that should never be forgotten. However, I take issue with this being thought of as the first and/or worst act of domestic terrorism. Is anyone in the media aware of the May 31 – June 1, 1921 massacre of the Black Wall Street section of Greenwood, Okla.? Was that not an act of domestic terrorism? It was called a “race riot,” but it has finally been recognized as a race massacre of Black folks perpetrated by white people and covered up by the city of Tulsa, the state of Oklahoma and the U.S. government. Cliff Mitchell
Out of proportion
Hillsdale, N.Y.: Patrick Crusius kills 23 ordinary people at Walmart and gets life without parole while Luigi Mangione kills one CEO and the death penalty is on the table. The message here is that one CEO’s life is more important than 23 ordinary people. What’s wrong with this picture? Phil Antico
Crime blind spot
White Plains, N.Y.: If the Department of Homeland Security is allowed to deport alleged violent gang members to jails in foreign countries without just cause, why isn’t it deporting convicted violent gang members from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers? Could the reason be as simple as the color of their skin? Steve Howe
Sovereign decision
Scarsdale, N.Y.: The U.S. Supreme Court did not order the return of illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador. The court has no authority to order President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador to do anything. Bukele is not a U.S. citizen. He is the president of another country, over which the Supreme Court has no authority. The court does have authority over the Trump administration, which was ordered to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia if Bukele desires it. I heard Bukele speak from the White House, and he said he has no intention of releasing this man, who is a citizen of El Salvador. The ancient Romans had a saying about this: When the reason for a law ceases to exist, the law itself ceases to exist. The same applies to a court order. Peter McCarthy
He’s home
Long Beach, L.I.: One wonders if all the hypocrites coming to the aid of an illegal immigrant twice ordered to be deported offered condolences to all the families of people murdered by illegals and gang members. He is home in El Salvador and should have no right to come back to the U.S.A. Arlene Reilly
Drop the hostility
Oakland Gardens: Last month Sen. Chuck Schumer called Trump’s supporters “bastards,” apparently succumbing to political pressure due to his party’s defeat and Trump’s impressive victory. This is reminiscent of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s audacity in 2017 after Trump’s address to Congress, when she defiantly tore up his speech in protest. It brings to mind the words of former Democratic President Harry S. Truman in support of resilience: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Forget the animosity. It’s time to work together for the good of the country, or step aside! Thomas and Constance Dowd
