I won't be replacing the portrait of JPII above the piano in my living room any time soon, no matter how thrilled I am over Francis.
Happy story about how I came by that portrait. Shortly after Benedict's ascendancy, I asked Fr. Fred (in AZ) what the church planned to do with the beautiful official portrait of his predecessor. Fr. Fred told me to stop by the rectory later on and I'd find out. When I arrived, he handed it to me all wrapped up and said, "Forget where you got this."
He was so cool, like another priest in CA who gave me a print of the Madonna and Child when the nursery in that church, built in the 1890's, was being redecorated. Before every Mass I always went to look at that picture first because I loved it so much. One day it was missing; I nosed around and found it in a closet under a pile of other stuff that was headed for the trash bin! Knowing better than to act on my own, I asked Fr. Leland if that was any chance it might be for sale. Name your price. At that time I had real $. He looked at me and shook his head sadly. "No, there's no way I can sell it to you." He'd set me up for the zinger, of course. "However, since it was probably donated originally by one of the founding families, I can't really let it be thrown out either. So I hereby appoint you and your heirs in perpetuity the caretakers of this item. Remember you don't own it, and if the donators notice its disappearance and want it back, you'll have to return it."
Whereupon he wrapped it up in his own overcoat and carried it out to my van for me.
That picture hangs next to JPII's portrait everywhere I've ever lived since. Now tell me, have I been blessed or what????
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