Today, the Church mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th successor of Saint Peter, a shepherd who bore the weight of the keys of the Kingdom with humility, simplicity, and profound pastoral love.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and was ordained a priest in 1969. In 2013, he became the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first to take the name “Francis”, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint of poverty, peace, and creation.
Pope Francis led the Church with a heart for the marginalized, a voice for the poor, and a bold challenge to the comfort of the faithful. He called us to go to the peripheries, to encounter others with mercy, and to live out the Gospel through actions, not just doctrine. His motto, “Miserando atque eligendo” (“Having mercy and choosing him”), marked a papacy rooted in compassion and conversion.
A Reflection of Hope and Faith
Though the Vicar of Christ has now returned to the house of the Father, we are not without hope. Pope Francis reminded us countless times that our faith is not in men, but in Jesus Christ, who remains ever faithful to His Church. As Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints, and so we entrust Pope Francis to the mercy of God, confident that the Good Shepherd welcomes His servant with the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25:23).
His passing invites us to reflect:
Have we truly responded to his call for deeper mercy, encounter, and evangelization?
Are we continuing the mission to go out, rather than remain comfortable within?
Let us pray not only for the repose of his soul, but also for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as the Church now looks to the election of a new shepherd. May we, the faithful, honor his legacy by walking boldly in faith and love.
Prayer:
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
Pope Francis, servant of mercy pray for us.
