It used to be common sense, handed down by those who learned it through hard experience, never to discuss religion or politics. But I hope it’s uncontroversial to state, regardless of one’s personal convictions or interpretation of Scripture or feelings about the Church, Pope Francis was a good man. He was a voice of compassion in an often cruel world that of late seems to be racing downhill on a banana peel. No one in his position could ever be all things to all people, but the very fact that in at least one of the world’s highest and most influential offices there was an adult with his hand on the tiller was somehow reassuring. May his successor continue to be a moderating influence. R.I.P.

Ennio Morricone, “Mass for Pope Francis”