Franciscus

 

        This week started with the announcement that Pope Francis died. The news mad me very sad. I was happy when he was released from the hospital a few weeks ago, glad that he survived a few close calls. I had hoped he would recover at home and when strong enough return to more public duties.

        Things turned out differently.

        For the record, I'm not Catholic so the fact that I'm mourning the pope may seem strange to some. It seems strange to me too. While I have great respect for the work of Saint Pope John Paul II, I didn't mourn him like I do Francis.

        I remember the excitement around his election. He was the first to take the name Francis, the first pope from outside Europe and the first Jesuit to be elected. He chose to live simply all his life and that did not change after his election. He seemed to eschew the trappings of his office in favour of plainness. Instead of being buried in St Peter's as popes usually are, he chose to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. According to what has been reported, it was a church he went to often.

    He caught my attention because he seemed to be more down to earth and that he genuinely cared about people. In his first foot washing ceremony as pope, he washed the feet of two girls in a juvenile prison in Rome. Before that only the feet of men were washed. What he did was controversial and angered many people. It seemed to me, that he was sending a signal. He intended to serve all.

    Last fall I attended the ordination of a Catholic bishop in St. Paul. The new bishop made some remarks toward the end of the service and quoted the recently released encyclical letter Dilexit nos (He loved us). Out of curiosity I read the English translation of the encyclical. It's heavy reading for someone who tends toward lighter fare, but I was glad that I read it. 

    Reading that encyclical lead me to reading the weekly message that Pope Francis would give after the reciting of the Angelus prayer in the Vatican. After the prayer he would greet groups in the square, give his thoughts about events going on in the world and express his concern for those living in areas of war. He always urged warring leaders to find some way to make peace. He ended his comments by wishing everyone a good Sunday, that they should enjoy their lunch and requesting that they pray for him.

    I think the reason why I feel sad is because he seemed to be a light of kindness and respect in a culture that is leaning toward meanness. It was nice to know that there was one world leader that seemed to truly care about the world and those living in it.

Thank you for your example Pope Francis

Requiescat in pace