Yesterday Pope Francis, appearing from a balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, blessed those present after a Vatican aide delivered a papal speech on his behalf. Yara Nardis/Reuters
Last evening I watched the evening news with our 12-year-old grandson who is an astute young man. His family doesn't have old-school TV so he hasn't seen Pope Francis in a while and when there was a piece on the pontiff waving to the Easter crowd in St. Peter's Square he was surprised at his fraility. "He looks so different" was his comment, and that was true. This morning I'll let him know that Pope Francis died overnight, having survived his lengthy battle with pneumonia to make it to a final celebration of Christ's resurrection.
I admired Pope Francis even though at times we was bewildering. He would take steps forward on the inclusion of women in leadership, kindness toward LGBTQ2S+ persons, and contrition toward Indigenous peoples only to slip sideways or backwards. He never really altered church doctrine in key areas but to be fair he was facing immense resistance to change. In a Roman Catholic church that asserts papal infallibility he was relentlessly attacked by conservatives who were disrepectful and conniving. It was shameful and it's hard to imagine the outcome of the conclave to decide on his replacement.
So much will be written about the ministry and legacy of Pope Francis. I will always be grateful for his environmental encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this vital and comprehensive document.
It is fitting that perhaps his last significant statement was a rebuke of the Trump administration for its wretched treatment of migrants. He instructed American bishops to resist what is occurring and when Vice President Vance visited the Vatican on the weekend he directed a cardinal to diplomaticaly school him on the gospel imperative of compassion. Francis still made time to meet with Vance and his family.
Pope Francis washes the feet of an inmate at the Rebibbia women's prison on the outskirts of Rome as he celebrates the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper on March 28, 2024. The pontiff washed the feet of 12 inmates at the prison, all women.. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
On Maundy Thursday Pope Francis visited a prison, something he has done throughout his pontificate. He was not able to wash the feet of inmates, something he has done in the past, but he spoke with individuals about their lives and gave out bibles.
His commitment to the poor and the marginalized was evident to the end and it was impressive. We've heard that the Orange Menace has suggested a military parade in honour of his own 79th birthday, yet another example of his narcissism. The contrast brings to mind the Roman military parade entering Jerusalem from the west 2,000 years ago while Jesus made his way into the city from the east, humbly mounted on a donkey. It was the compassionate way of Christ, not Roman might that prevailed.
Thank you, Francis, for following Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment