Reporter's Notebook: From John Paul II to Francis, covering two historic papacies

Two popes . . . Francis and John Paul II . . . their deaths separated by astir precisely 20 years. Both world-renowned figures and akin successful idiosyncratic attack . . . but the 2 were different, arsenic well. I had the grant of covering both.  

The quality of the decease of Pope Francis came conscionable arsenic I was returning to London from a agelong Easter play successful the States. While Francis had been earnestly ill, helium besides seemed to beryllium connected the mend, truthful his speedy and quiescent decease astatine his humble flat successful the Santa Marta guesthouse caught galore by surprise. A planned "catnap" by maine astatine location turned into a speedy dash to our UK studio. 

In a bid of "live shots," I talked astir a antheral who seemed truthful acquainted to all. They called him the "People’s Pope." And nary wonder. The archetypal from the Americas. For 12 years a champion of the downtrodden, victims of war, hunger and poverty. Taking connected large planetary issues similar inequality and planetary warming. Tangling, with degrees of success, with issues wrong the Roman Catholic Church similar enactment maltreatment and the roles of women and gays. All with a personal, humble and humorous touch.   

FOX NEWS TO AIR SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE OF POPE FRANCIS' FUNERAL ON SATURDAY

A follower holds a representation of the precocious Pope Francis astatine the Basílica de San José de Flores, wherever helium worshipped arsenic a youth, pursuing the Vatican's announcement of his decease successful Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Gustavo Garello/AP)

And astatine the aforesaid time, successful my mind, determination were memories of the passing of Pope John Paul II. I was determination successful Vatican City connected a chilly nighttime successful April 2005, reporting with the Fox News team. The pope was virtually connected his deathbed successful his Apostolic Palace flat overlooking St. Peter’s Square, wherever tens of thousands had gathered successful a wide vigil. And past the lights went out.

Fox News Correspondent Greg Palkot reporting connected the passing of Pope John Paul II astatine Vatican City, April 2005 (Fox News)

We detailed, too, that night, the beingness of this antheral who had captured the tone of the world. A beardown dependable for state and democracy. Who had played a large relation successful bringing down communism successful his homeland of Poland and elsewhere. John Paul II tried to bring the satellite unneurotic arsenic helium kept religion rulings successful line. I had covered him for 26 years, starting arsenic a "cub" shaper astatine his conclave successful 1978.

Greg Palkot, left, producing for WABC News during the conclave for John Paul II astatine Vatican City, October 1978.  (Courtesy Greg Palkot)

After some deaths, the aforesaid words were utilized by Vatican officials to picture the "trip" the Popes took connected those fateful days: "He has returned to the location of his father."

The passing of a pope is conscionable the opening of a lengthy process erstwhile the Vatican turns implicit the keys to the religion of 1.3 cardinal planetary followers to a caller leader. A monolithic ceremony-laden ceremonial is past followed by the play of the enactment of a caller pope, the conclave with its achromatic fume for nary determination . . . achromatic fume for a caller Pope. And past their inauguration. 

The cardinals who gathered successful the aftermath of the passing of John Paul II chose Pope Benedict XVI a much blimpish and much aged person than they’d picked before. He would lone service for 8 years. His resignation (he died successful 2022) paved the mode for different conclave, which chose the Argentinian Pope Francis. 

POPE FRANCIS REVEALED BURIAL WISHES JUST DAYS AFTER BECOMING POPE IN 2013

Fox News' Greg Palkot reported connected some Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II. (Pope Francis AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino | John Paul II: Getty Images)

Both John Paul II and Francis were thought to beryllium long-shot outsiders. Speculation is present gathering astir the prime to beryllium made successful the upcoming papal "election." Will it instrumentality the papacy to Italian dominance oregon dispersed its scope to a caller state and continent? Will the caller pope revive a much blimpish attack to the religion oregon enactment successful the modern tone of Francis?

The coming days volition tell.

Many of america transportation our ain reminders of those who person passed. In my case, literally. In 2005, a Vatican insider gave maine rosary beads blessed by John Paul II. I’ve kept them with maine connected each my sometimes-rough travels since. From Afghanistan and Iraq . . . to the Mideast and Ukraine.

Rosary beads blessed by Pope John Paul II, carried by Greg Palkot connected his travels. (Greg Palkot)

I besides support with maine the representation of my precocious mother. She was a large instrumentality of the Polish pontiff. She died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, oregon ALS, which ravages the body. Similar to immoderate of the effects of Parkinson’s illness that contributed to John Paul II’s death. 

Born of humble stock, I cognize Mom would besides person liked the elemental religion of Pope Francis. And however helium passed. There are immoderate who accidental helium held disconnected his "departure" until the Monday aft the events of Easter, truthful arsenic not to spoil that astir beatified time successful the Roman Catholic calendar.    

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Just similar immoderate successful my household think, my parent held disconnected her passing until the time aft my April birthday. Considerate of others to the end.

Rest successful Peace Francis.  Although I’m definite you’ll person a batch of catching up to bash with each your friends "upstairs"!