We’ll Miss Pope Francis

Good morning…

Pope Francis died early yesterday at age 88, after blessing thousands from his wheelchair the day before, on Easter morning. Jim Wallis has called Pope Francis “an Easter pope, one who showed us the Easter courage that will be deeply needed in the coming days.”

As a Protestant person, I reached out to some of my Catholic friends, asking them personally, “What will you remember about Pope Francis?” Here are the responses I received.

• He tore down walls and built bridges between all people. He implored the world not to turn our back on migrants. He walked inclusive steps, just like Jesus. He was the Pope of the people, the downtrodden, the poor, the immigrants. Down to earth and humble, Pope Francis lived a simple way of life with a joyful sense of humor.
• Sue, thank you for asking. Here are just some of my thoughts to offer you. Pope Francis led us from the depth of his own Ignatian Spirituality. He began when first elected to take a moment in SILENCE, asked us to pray for him and bless him, before he blessed us! It was quite remarkable to have a Jesuit Pontiff who clearly led from his experience of the Spiritual Exercises and his intimacy with Jesus. Like Jesus, he cared deeply for those on the margins, those who were neglected, who were refugees, immigrants, and innocent victims of war. He called those of us who work in Jesuit apostolates (like Ignatius House) to prioritize these four things:
  1) sharing the Spiritual Exercises leading souls to an encounter with God,
  2) walking with the excluded,
  3) walking with the young people of today offering them a hope-filled future,
  4) asking us to care for our “common home” the planet. He was the first Jesuit Pope. We have been blessed these 12 years to have him leading the church. He was a remarkable man and led with great LOVE right until his final breath. Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. Thank you for your voice in our broken world. You always gave me HOPE!
• The things that stood out to me were his courage: both in his willingness to speak out against injustice and his desire to listen to people who were different than him. And his humility: he did not flaunt his status, but recognized he was a sinner loved by God. I also admired his desire to spend holy days with those on the margins, like the Holy Thursday during which he visited a women’s prison and washed the women’s feet. The images of that will always stay with me.
• Hi Sue, thanks for asking.
  Pope Francis’ breadth of vision began with humility; rather than the traditional blessing conferred on others, his very first words asked others to pray for him. He chose to live simply and even to be buried away from the pomp of the Vatican. He saw the poor, the marginalized, those of non-Christian faiths as equally beloved of God. And told them so. He saw the suffering of our planet and our obligation as stewards to care for creation. Yes, his humble beginnings helped him to see, but I believe God took that reality and gave him an ability to truly see. He did not defy convention to set himself apart from tradition or make some kind of statement, rather I believe he saw himself as one, with a particular mandate from God, but only one in the vast circle of God’s beloved children.
• Sue, regarding our Pope. He was a good man. I am happy he is resting in peace now. Pope Francis was likable. Let’s hope next up is too.