Dear Parishioners,

Early this past Easter Monday, I woke up and discovered almost immediately that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, had passed into eternal life. I was both surprised and not surprised at this news. I was surprised because, even though the pope did not preside at any of the Holy Week Liturgies, the Vatican media seemed to intimate that his health was stable and that he was conserving his energy for upcoming papal tasks by not acting as celebrant for these sacred rites.

At the same time, I was not surprised since the decline in his health had been increasingly more evident and serious this past year while he continued in the daunting responsibility of shepherding one billion Catholics at the age of 88. But how fitting that on Easter Sunday he was able to appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica one last time and impart his solemn apostolic blessing Urbi et Orbe (“for the city and the world”) as if to say “farewell” to the world that he served with such joyful fidelity during his eleven years as the Vicar of Christ on earth.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he would be the oldest of five children. When he was elected the 265th successor of St. Peter on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76, he chose to be known by the name “Francis,” after the 13th-century St. Francis of Assisi. At the time, there were those who predicted he would be a somewhat inconsequential “caretaker pope.” Very soon, however, he surprised the world by becoming one of the most strikingly unusual and controversial popes of the modern era.

During his eleven-year pontificate, he achieved several firsts. He was the first Jesuit and Latin American pope. He was the first pope to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. He was the first pope to call for civil union laws and approve ecclesiastical blessings for same-sex couples. And he was the first pope to visit Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, Mongolia, and Myanmar. He also broke with papal custom when, immediately after his election as pope, he announced that he would not be moving into the Apostolic Palace but would instead take up residence in the Casa Santa Marta, a Vatican guest house that hosts cardinals and other members of the clergy.

Some of Pope Francis’ most noteworthy efforts and accomplishments were: his Apostolic Exhortation on the pastoral care of families Amoris Laetitia, his battles against sexual abuse and misconduct among the clergy, an emphasis on the sacred and dignified celebration of the liturgy as it was reformed by Vatican II, as well as stringent restrictions on the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. He strongly focused on synodality and the inclusion of the laity in matters concerning Church government, a never-before-seen sensitivity to LGBTQ individuals, an adamant need for reform among the various offices of the Roman Curia, the care of migrants, an interest in international affairs that would foster peace and reconciliation among nations, and the urgent need to heal our planet earth and preserve its resources for future generations. Additionally, he worked towards improving dialogue with Islamic nations.

Pope Francis traveled to more than 40 countries, some of which he did while confined to a wheelchair. He celebrated Mass in the Philippines in 2015, which marked the largest papal event in history with more than 6 million participants. In that same year, he visited the Central African Republic, which was an active war zone. He published four encyclicals, the last of which was inspired by his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

While he is sometimes portrayed as a revolutionary figure, he will most likely be remembered for taking a more evolutionary approach to change in the Catholic Church. Rather than attempting to alter Catholic laws or teachings, Pope Francis was more concerned about changing the Church’s culture so as to give priority to the value of the human person. He maintained that there were three major hallmarks of God’s presence: closeness, compassion, and tenderness.

With deep gratitude, we now commend this holy and remarkable man to God, praying that he may have the reward of his labor and be clothed in the perpetual light of the Risen Christ.

I encourage individuals and families to offer the following prayer while we mourn the death of Pope Francis and pray for his successor.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of Your Church, we thank you for the ministry of Pope Francis and the selfless care with which he has led us as Successor of Peter, and Your Vicar on earth.

Good Shepherd, who founded Your Church on the rock of Peter’s faith and have never left Your flock untended, look with love upon us now, and sustain Your Church in faith, hope, and charity.

Grant, Lord Jesus, in Your boundless love for us, a new Pope for Your Church who will please You by his holiness and lead us faithfully to You, who are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

(Knights of Columbus, 2005. Text attributed to Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore)

Blessings,

Fr. Gabriel, OSB

BACK TO LIST