With the Pope’s passing, many commentators are rendering an array of judgments. Conservative media have been quick to criticize the man’s representation of the Gospel. Others, however, have expressed gratitude for his efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, protect the oppressed, and save the earth from our destruction of it. From the New York Times, the Pew Research Group released the following:
90% of Catholic Democrats gave Pope Francis a favorable rating while 63% of Catholic Republicans echoed Fox programming (negative toward Francis). Democrats supported Francis on issues such as climate change and the limits of capitalism. Pew also said:
· 83% of U.S. Catholics want the Church to allow the use of contraception.
· 75% say the Church should allow Catholics to take Communion even if they are unmarried and living with a romantic partner.
· 69% say priests should be allowed to get married.
· 64% say women should be allowed to become priests.
54% say the Church should recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples.
Despite the above percentages regarded as “liberal,” the American church itself seems likely to continue moving rightward (conservative) into the next papacy. More than three out of four young priests describe themselves as theologically conservative.
Those who see themselves as traditionalists feel discomfort liturgically. In 2021, Pope Francis issued the equivalent of an executive order limiting where and when priests could administer the Traditional Latin Mass, the Mass celebrated worldwide for centuries until the reforms of Vatican II. Pope Francis seemed to see supporters of the older Mass as rejecting the church’s modernization more broadly, and dismissed the formal vestments preferred by many traditionalist priests as “Grandma’s lace.”
With Francis being a former Jesuit, the General (the “superior” of the Order) wrote the following letter to all members of the Society of Jesus.
Dear Brothers,
The Society of Jesus shares in the sorrow of all the people of God, in union with many other people of good will, at the end of the earthly life of Pope Francis. It does so with deep feeling and with the serenity born of the firm hope in the resurrection through which the Lord Jesus opened for us the door to full participation in the life of God.
We mourn the passing of one who was placed at the service of the Universal Church and exercised the Petrine ministry for more than 12 years. At the same time, we feel the departure of our dear brother Jesuit. We have shared the same spiritual charism and the same manner of following the Lord. We are disquieted by his departure, and yet a deep sense of gratitude springs spontaneously from our hearts to God the Father for so much good received through the service of a whole lifetime and for the way in which Pope Francis knew how to guide the Church during his pontificate, in communion and continuity with his predecessors in the endeavor to put into practice the spirit and guidelines of the 2nd Vatican Council.
Pope Francis kept a watchful eye on what was happening in the world to offer a word of hope to all. His extraordinary encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli tutti reveal not only a lucid analysis of the state of humanity, but, in the light of the Gospel, they also offer ways to eliminate the causes of so much injustice and to promote reconciliation.
For Pope Francis, dialogue with one another, between political rivals or between religions and cultures, is the way to continue to propose peace and social stability, to create environments of mutual understanding, care for one another and support in solidarity. On many occasions, we listened to his words, his pastoral reflection and we admired his tireless activity, as he proposed initiatives or joined those of others, always convinced of the value of the word and of encounter.
How could we forget the extraordinary moment of prayer he himself called for in the face of the coronavirus emergency in March 2020, in an empty St Peter’s Square? Or the constant concern for peace in the face of intolerance and wars that threaten international coexistence and generate untold suffering among the most defenseless. Or the empathy of his heart with the immense flow of forcibly displaced persons throughout the world, especially those compelled to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean.
In 2013, when greeting the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to celebrate the newly elected Pope, we already find two key dimensions of his ministry: the importance of walking together, Bishop and people, on a path of fraternity, love, trust and hope; and the centrality of prayer and the importance given to the development of the Synod of Bishops. In no way does it diminish the Primacy of Peter or episcopal responsibility; on the contrary, it allows it to be exercised with the conscious participation of all the baptized, of the people of God on the way, recognizing the presence and action of the Lord through his Holy Spirit in the life of the ecclesial community.
The invitation to prayer is impressed on our memory: Let us pray together, Bishop and people. I ask you to pray to the Lord to bless me. Throughout his pontificate, he concluded his speeches, including the Sunday Angelus, with the same invitation: please do not forget to pray for me. He never tired of reminding us how prayer is born of trust in God and familiarity with Him. In prayer, we can discover the secret of the life of the saints. He pointed out to us an essential element of our identity. Pope Francis affirmed our service of the poor, inculturated, focused on service, and free from all worldly ambition.
Easter Sunday Reflections
We started Holy Week with Palm Sunday. Recall that when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, his gesture was not just a wonderful day that broadcast people recognizing him as a great leader. Rather, the events of this day were a socio-religious PROTEST. Each year, the Roman governor (Pontius Pilate at that time) rode into Jerusalem on a carriage bedecked with gold & silver symbols of the Roman Gods who gave witness to the emperor being a God—his representative being the governor. The day was a show of Roman power to the oppressed Israelites and others over whom the Romans ruled. Resistance to these supernatural and natural powers should be unthinkable to those who witnessed the spectacle.
The Sadducees and other religious authorities had become “sell outs” to the Roman occupiers and had overseen he great Temple turned into a kind of Wall Street. Recall Jesus overthrowing the tables of the traders? That was but one of his protests against the occupying Roman foreigners who were oppressing the people and not serving them. Seeing the Temple become a “den of thieves” with the wealthy lording it over the poor, Jesus dramatically showed that he was in solidarity with the people—as a kind, caring, outreaching leader who had come to serve and not be served. Behaving this way guaranteed a warrant for his death. They didn’t execute Jesus because “he was a nice guy.” No, he stepped on the toes of society’s privileged classes.
Holy Week saw us celebrate Jesus giving us the Eucharistic meal that tells us of his continuing presence as Emmanuel—“God with us.” And Good Friday, with our reflection on the 14 stations, reminded us of our lives being a “station of the cross.” On different days or in different life experiences, we are denying association with Jesus, or nailing him with words we direct at people, or crying like the women in seeing wrongs committed, or we’re Veronica trying to wipe the face of those who suffer. As with all of Scripture, Good Friday slams home to us that the crucifixion is not just one day in history that took place 2000 years ago. It is something that we see on the nightly news, in political leaders, corporations, and neighborhood homes.