Today, we join Christians around the world and mourn the death of Pope Francis. Although the pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and I am an Anglican, I do recognize his appointment as a bishop and respect the leadership he provides for global Christianity. The pope is recognized the world over as a political as well as a spiritual leader. Yet at the heart of his work, he is a pastor whose responsibility it is to shepherd the world’s over one billion Catholics. Pope Francis fulfilled that duty well, although not without controversy. Elected to the papacy in 2013 after the resignation Pope Benedict XVI, Francis was seen a welcome change to the face of global Christianity.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis was the first pope to hail from the America’s. As pope, Francis made several departures from tradition such as choosing to live in simple housing rather than in the lavish papal apartment. He also chose to dress simply (mostly in white) and not in the more ornate traditional vestments of the pope. For these reasons, Francis is admired the world over as one who led by example. His pontificate, however, could be controversial. Francis did not fit neatly into the boxes of the modern conservative/liberal divide. On many issues such as abortion and the right to life, he was staunchly conservative opposing abortion. Yet he advocated for those at the margins of society such as the refugee, the immigrant, the poor, and those in prison. A stance typically taken by those who lean liberal. For this reason, he drew stark criticisms from both sides of the political aisle. And yet this position is only deeply Christian, it is deeply Christ like. For Jesus himself would not fit neatly into our political boxes, either. Despite the criticism, Pope Francis kept his eyes on Jesus and focused on leading the Catholic Church into the twentieth century. He embraced new technology as a means of spreading the good news of Jesus around the world, and particularly to young people. For that he is to commended.
On this day, let us join together with our Catholic brothers and sisters to thank the Lord for the life of Pope Francis. We pray for the Catholic community as they mourn this loss, and look to the future in the election of a new pope in the coming weeks. May the Lord Jesus bring comfort and peace to all who mourn, while we also, in the words of the Nicene Creed (as we celebrated yesterday on Easter Sunday) “look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
Collect (Prayer) of the Day
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (taken from the Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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