ForGirolamo

Loveyourneighborasyourself,Jesussays.Ionlyhaveoneneighbor,youGirolamo.WithGirolamo,Ispentmanyasimple,serenehour.Wedidn’tneedtodograndiosethingsinordertobehappy.Wedidn’tneedtomakegrandspeeches,becausebetweenfriends,silenceisgolden.WhyIdidaskyouallheretodayinmemoryofGirolamo?Torepairaninjustice.BecauseIamtheonlyonewhohadthegreatgoodfortuneofspendingtimewithhime.Iintendtorightthatwrong,whichmeansIneedtotellyouwhoGirolamois.Girolamoistheworldthatsuffers.Girolamoisgrace.Girolamoisgoodnessandvirtue.Girolamo,Isaythisforallofyouwhowerenotfortunateenoughtoknowhim,iskindandcheerful,joyous,andfulloflife.YouareprobablywonderingwhatdoesGirolamoliketodo.Girolamolovestotalk,buthealsolikestolisten,andtogivemeadvice.HelikestowatchTVandtolistentotheradiotogetherwithme.Girolamolovestorunanddance,towalkandsingandpray.Helovestoswimatthesunset,andflirtwiththegirls,becauseGirolamoisagoodlookingboyandhelovestogivethemflowers,becauseGirolamoloveskindness.Girolamoiseverythingwearenot.Whichiswhywehavegatheredheretodaytocelebratehim.Becausewearenotlikehim,andbecausewewouldliketobe.Whichiswhywecontemplateandadorehim.BecauseGirolamoknowshowtolove,andhowtobeatruefriend.Whichiswhyhisfriendshavecomeheretodayandwhytherearesomany.Girolamoisamoralguide,whichiswhytheleadersofhiscountryareallheretoday.Girolamo,mybrothersandsisters,isasaint,whichiswhythepopehimselfwantedtosaymasstoday.Girolamoistheworldthatsuffers.Girolamoistheworldthatloves.AndIthankGodforgivingmetheextraordinaryopportunitytobehisbestfriend.Thankyou,Girolamo.You,andonlyyou,whoknewintimatelytheanguishofsuffering,thebeautyofsacrifice,andthepoweroflove.Iwillneverforgetyou,Girolamo.Never.