“The Pope who tried to meet everyone, who had an ability to forgive and to open his heart to all, tells us once again today, with these words of the Lord, that by abiding in the love of Christ we learn, at the school of Christ, the art of true love.”

That was not from the funeral Mass for Pope Francis this morning. It is from the homily Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger delivered at Pope John Paul II’s funeral Mass. It’s worthy taking the time to reread this Easter Saturday.

Ninety-one-year-old Italian Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, was the main celebrant and homilist today. He’s seen a lot of history made firsthand, but his homily won’t be remembered so much for how it changed hearts. It was a timeline of the Francis papacy, meant to make the media point out that some world leaders — including Donald Trump, of course — were supposed to feel uncomfortable during it.

The most beautiful parts of the morning were:

If you are looking to watch a replay of the Mass, I’d recommend EWTN, if you are looking for prayerful translations and commentary.

At times I could have forgotten Msgr. Roger Landry from the Pontifical Mission Societies was not actually concelebrating the Mass, his interventions were so reverent and thorough. Landry is one of the Francis-appointed missionaries of mercy. If you are wanting to read something spiritual from the late pontiff, anything on mercy would do — and be appropriate for tomorrow’s feast of Divine Mercy. The Name of God Is Mercy came up yesterday during my conversation with theologian Pia de Solenni and editor Gary Jansen. It’s a good place to go.

Here’s a taste:

We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it. Mercy: the word reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us. Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life. Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.

Pope Francis, more than once, went to confession within view of rolling livestream cameras. He talked incessantly about how God welcomes our desire for forgiveness. Do not be afraid to repeatedly ask for forgiveness for a repeated sin. You get tired and ashamed, but God wants to heal you with sacramental grace. St. Mary Major happens to be where Irish Dominicans are stationed and hear English-language Confessions. And so, whenever and English speaker visits the tomb of Pope Francis, he will walk past confessionals, as if to be reminded yet again by Pope Francis to run, not walk to the sacrament of mercy.

Re can be forgiven his bureaucratic homily. (Though that he referenced Francis in Heaven in it, rather than asking for what Francis would have asked for: Prayers for himself, so that he may be purified for life in Heaven eternally, is not as easily forgiven.) As with the Francis pontificate as a whole, the images from this funeral are what have the greatest impact. Being at the foot of Our Lady, as she is always with her Son — where every Christian needs to be.