With our joyous celebration of Easter still very much in our hearts, all of us received the news of Pope Francis passing with sadness and a real sense of loss. As we mourn his death, I want to take a moment to reflect on what Pope Francis has meant to the Church and to many of us personally. His legacy of humility, his witness to mercy, and his untiring service will remain a guiding light for us all.
Francis has rightly been called the “people’s pope” and from the beginning of his papacy, he chose a life of humility. He could have embraced the luxuries that come with his position, but he rejected such comforts, choosing instead simplicity. This wasn’t a public relations stunt or empty gesture, but a deep commitment to the Gospel. He chose the name “Francis,” after St. Francis of Assisi, whose own embrace of the vow of poverty was radical. Pope Francis, too, embodied this same value.
One of the other striking aspects of Pope Francis’ papacy was his unwavering emphasis on mercy. He continuously reminded us that God’s mercy is available to all – no matter our past, no matter our mistakes.
And mercy was not just a concept to Pope Francis, it was a way of life. His witness to mercy was demonstrated in untiring service. In 2013, when Francis visited Lampedusa (an island off the coast of Italy, refuge to 8,000 migrants) few people had ever heard of the place. Now it has become synonymous with his papacy. His service took him to some of the poorest countries and communities in the world, where he spent time in prisons, orphanages, hospitals, refugee camps, soup kitchens. His papacy was a constant invitation to us all to go beyond our comfort zones and live the Gospel with open hearts.
The Church is built on Christ. So, as we enter a time of mourning and transition, we must keep our eyes on Christ. Let us pray that the work that Pope Francis began – to live simply, to bring the message of God’s mercy to the world, to serve one another, especially those most in need – continues through each of us.
