As the Cardinals prepare to go into "Conclave" this coming week, many are still reflecting on the life and especially the papacy of Pope Francis. I want to add my reflections to these in this pastor's column.
As much could be said and has been said about this unique pope from South America, I will focus briefly on three characteristics that will long be remembered by Catholics and Non-Catholics alike.
The first was his humility. From the beginning of his papacy when he asked the "Faithful" and all people to pray for him, to his rejecting some long standing traditions that seemed to treat the pope as royalty, to his washing the feet of prison inmates every Holy Thursday, Pope Francis was grounded in Jesus Christ who was the greatest example of humility in that he came down from heaven to share in our humanity and accepted the humiliation of his passion and death.
The second was his simplicity in the way he dressed (simple shoes) to the place where he lived (in an apartment outside the Vatican), to his choice to be buried in a simple wooden coffin. Pope Francis most definitely kept his eyes on the things of heaven and not the things of earth. He was an example to all of us who face temptation toward the things of this world and the prestige that some put with such ownership. I just read this morning (Wednesday) that he willed all his personal finances to the needs of prisoners at a prison in Rome.
Finally, Pope Francis taught by word and example that we are all called to live lives of love AND mercy. It was so appropriate that he died during the Novena to Divine Mercy that was observed and carried out from Good Friday to the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. During his pontificate we celebrated a Jubilee of Mercy year and Francis promoted the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Matthew Kelly defines mercy as love reaching out to those in misery and Pope Francis showed by reaching out to prisoners, the poor, the migrant and others that God's mercy (and ours) should reach out to all, especially those who some think don't deserve it.
Finally, I want to say how much I admired (and in some small way try to imitate) Pope Francis in his attention to people in a personal way. He loved to be with people and encounter people as often as he could, including going out to some of the people at St. Peter's square on the day before he died. Jesus, throughout his ministry spoke to people that others thought he should ignore and stay away from, and Pope Francis showed by his demeanor and actions that God loves every person and everyone gets his attention in a most sincere way. Humility, simplicity, and mercy are qualities and virtues that we should all strive to live out every day of our lives. Sadly, we will miss seeing it daily in one, Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ who now lives forever in the love, mercy and peace of God!
As much could be said and has been said about this unique pope from South America, I will focus briefly on three characteristics that will long be remembered by Catholics and Non-Catholics alike.
The first was his humility. From the beginning of his papacy when he asked the "Faithful" and all people to pray for him, to his rejecting some long standing traditions that seemed to treat the pope as royalty, to his washing the feet of prison inmates every Holy Thursday, Pope Francis was grounded in Jesus Christ who was the greatest example of humility in that he came down from heaven to share in our humanity and accepted the humiliation of his passion and death.
The second was his simplicity in the way he dressed (simple shoes) to the place where he lived (in an apartment outside the Vatican), to his choice to be buried in a simple wooden coffin. Pope Francis most definitely kept his eyes on the things of heaven and not the things of earth. He was an example to all of us who face temptation toward the things of this world and the prestige that some put with such ownership. I just read this morning (Wednesday) that he willed all his personal finances to the needs of prisoners at a prison in Rome.
Finally, Pope Francis taught by word and example that we are all called to live lives of love AND mercy. It was so appropriate that he died during the Novena to Divine Mercy that was observed and carried out from Good Friday to the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. During his pontificate we celebrated a Jubilee of Mercy year and Francis promoted the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Matthew Kelly defines mercy as love reaching out to those in misery and Pope Francis showed by reaching out to prisoners, the poor, the migrant and others that God's mercy (and ours) should reach out to all, especially those who some think don't deserve it.
Finally, I want to say how much I admired (and in some small way try to imitate) Pope Francis in his attention to people in a personal way. He loved to be with people and encounter people as often as he could, including going out to some of the people at St. Peter's square on the day before he died. Jesus, throughout his ministry spoke to people that others thought he should ignore and stay away from, and Pope Francis showed by his demeanor and actions that God loves every person and everyone gets his attention in a most sincere way. Humility, simplicity, and mercy are qualities and virtues that we should all strive to live out every day of our lives. Sadly, we will miss seeing it daily in one, Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ who now lives forever in the love, mercy and peace of God!