Pope Francis

(17 December 1936 - 21 April 2025)
born Jorge Mario Bergoglio

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
(2 Timothy 4:7)

Pope Francis lived every moment of his Papal service with faithfulness, vigour, enthusiasm and determination. Even in illness Pope Francis continued to work and to engage actively with people. Clearly, he knew his time was limited on discharge from hospital so he ensured that it would matter as he participated in some of the Triduum celebrations and gave his final Easter blessing on Sunday past. Having enjoyed the great day of Christianity celebrating the feast of the Resurrection on Sunday past, he died the next morning.

Having embraced the name Francis as Pope, he made a statement which declared his option for those who are poor and marginalised in society along with a deep respect for the gift of God's creation. This was accompanied by his choice of living quarters which were in close association with people outside of the Vatican and of a relatively simple nature.

In the encyclical Laudato 'Si Pope Francis addressed what he called the throwaway culture of our time where cheap goods and short cuts for economic reasons created an environment which had no true enduring regard for the earth's resources. He spoke frequently of the throwaway culture which uses people only so long as they are useful. He often noted that this throwaway mindset effects, in particular, the unborn children, the elderly, the needy and the disadvantaged. We are all charged with moral responsibility to care for the gift of the earth and its' resources. We are all charged with responsibility for the marginalised.

Pope Francis was a pastoral servant of the church who made connections directly with those who were suffering in war torn countries, e.g. the parish priest in Palestine and the people in Ukraine on a daily basis in a pastoral manner. While Pope Francis offered comfort, prayer and support to the victims of war, he also promoted peace and dialogue between nations challenging those with the power to make a difference. He spoke with and for those whose value was being reduced by circumstances.

Pope Francis initiated the Synodal Pathway as an ongoing collaboration and discernment process whereby we open our hearts and minds to seek what is truly God's will, dialogue with openness and make decisions for our time. We will only feel that our feet are truly on this journey when we walk with those who are in need and step away from selfish motives. This, Synodal Pathway, will be Pope Francis' legacy which will be marked in historical time as an enduring gift.

May Pope Francis rest in peace.

Cathy Burke
Catechist in the Lucan Partnership of Parishes