Remembering Pope Francis

I'm not a Catholic, but I was inspired by Pope Francis.  His compassion and obvious joy in serving God were, in my opinion, exactly what the Church needed.

I was saddened by Francis' passing, because I think he's been a great blessing to many.  Especially today, when hyper-nationalism and far right politics are on the rise, we needed another strong voice to refute those trends.  His emphasis on humility and service set him apart as a leader in today's world.  He was outspoken about the plight of refugees and criticized the wars in Ukraine, Gaza (saying that "terror should not justify terror"), Sudan, and other places around the world.  He called for decisive action against the climate crisis.  And he promoted peaceful relations between those of different faiths and attempted greater understanding for LGBTQ+ individuals.

The Pope of Mercy

Born Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936, Pope Francis attended a technical secondary school and graduated with a chemical technician's diploma.  His first jobs were as a bouncer and a janitor, and then for several years he worked in a laboratory, before following the call to become a Jesuit novice in 1958.  Perhaps it's some of these early experiences that made him less formal than most of his predecessors.

When he became Pope, Bergoglio chose to honor St. Francis of Assisi because he was "especially concerned with the well-being of the poor."  He went on to say that St. Francis "brought to Christianity an idea of poverty against the luxury, pride, and vanity of the civil and ecclesiastical powers of his time."

According to many sources I consulted, Pope Francis made it clear that the Christian faith is not so much about following rules as it is about sharing God's love and mercy.  He was known for reminding priests that they must have "the smell of the sheep" about them, meaning that they are not superior to those they serve, but simply part of God's flock.

Former President Barack Obama commented on X:  "Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people....  He shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another."

Let me leave you with some words preached by the man himself:

God's mercy is our liberation and our happiness.  We live for mercy, and we cannot afford to be without mercy.  It is the air that we breathe.  We are too poor to set any conditions.  We need to forgive, because we need to be forgiven.

Pope Francis gave an Easter blessing to the faithful in St. Peter's Square last Sunday.  It was his final public act.  It's fitting that he was fulfilling his office on the last day of his life because that's how this Pope served – to his utmost.  A good choice for any of us.

Rest in peace, Pope Francis, and may your successor continue your legacy of humility and kindness.