Caption Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland in August 2018 for the 9th World Meeting of Families (Catholic Communications Office archive)
The late Holy Father has asked to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore with the simple inscription: ‘Franciscus’ – ‘Francis’, the name he chose twelve years ago at his election.
It caused quite a stir at the time, because no other pope in the history of the Church had taken the name of such a revered saint; inevitably, it would bring comparisons to the beloved Saint Francis of Assisi, who had given up everything for a life of radical poverty and humility.
But the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires was fully aware of the challenge. On that very first night when he stood on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica, he touched our hearts when he humbly greeted the people with a simple ‘Buonasera’, and then bowed his head down low, asking for the people’s prayers and blessing. And here we are this evening, praying for him and thanking God for the many blessings Pope Francis himself has brought to the Church and to the world.
Like the amazing Saint Francis of Assisi, the new pope Francis immediately began to prioritise the poor and the marginalised – and not just those who are financially poor, but everyone who is exploited, excluded, forgotten, or abused. Pope Francis especially wanted to reach the hearts of those who are spiritually poor, those who feel empty inside. To them he offered the Joy of the Gospel, a reason for living, a reason for hoping and an invitation to a personal encounter and friendship with Christ.
From the first days of his pontificate, Pope Francis had a special place in his heart for those on the peripheries, and for him, showing solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable meant looking into their faces, touching their flesh, drawing them close and assuring them, “God loves you”.
He took to heart that famous saying of Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel always; if necessary, use words“. His moving gestures of compassion spoke to millions around the world – e.g. his sincere empathy for migrants at the island of Lampedusa, his going into prisons to wash and kiss the feet of prisoners and his humble avoidance of many of the traditional privileges and accoutrements of the papacy.
Eight hundred years ago Saint Francis heard God’s call, “go and repair my Church for it is falling into ruin”. Pope Francis seems to have heard a similar call. And for him it meant the Church must be missionary; she has to get out and accompany people where they are at. “A Church which does not come out of herself to evangelise”, he said, “becomes self-referential and then gets sick.” “The self-referential Church keeps Jesus Christ within herself and does not let him out…”
Early in his papacy he said, ‘If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life.”
Pope Francis wanted us to be open to awe and wonder, to sing with Saint Francis, “Laudato Si’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord” for the beauty of nature, for the wonder of the universe, for the gift of life itself! He wholeheartedly embraced in a Franciscan way the need to care for our common home and to protect God’s creation. He alerted the entire world to the ‘cry of the Earth’ which he said is also the ‘cry of the poor’. He consistently highlighted the moral and ethical implications of climate change and the imperative facing humanity to protect the gifts of creation for future generations.
In this he was unafraid to criticise the drawbacks of modern capitalism and rampant consumerism, the limitless and sometimes ruthless exploitation of the world’s resources and the crime of so much waste. He went even further to point out how human life itself is susceptible to today’s “throwaway culture”, especially at its most vulnerable moments at the very beginning and end of life.
Like Saint Francis, Pope Francis was steeped in the Word of God. He loved to ‘meditate out loud’ on what the Bible tells us. In his powerful encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which he wrote during the pandemic, he reflected on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, ‘Who is my neighbour? Who is my brother? Who is my sister?’
Once more, of course, Pope Francis made a special appeal in the name of all those on the ‘margins’, the ‘peripheries’ of life and society. But again he challenged us by suggesting that the peripheries are not always far away, ‘Some peripheries are close to us, in the city centres or in our families’: the homeless persons lying on our streets, refugees in tents or camps, starving children, innocent victims of war – how easy it us to feel sorry for them but then quickly ‘shift our gaze’, never really questioning our own values, lifestyle and attitudes. Pope Francis kept on challenging us, discomforting us, even: who might WE be shuffling onto the margins of society, perhaps preferring to forget?
Pope Francis made own those words attributed to Saint Francis, “Lord make me an instrument of your peace; wherever there is hatred; let me sow love…” Almost every day since the brutal attacks by Hamas in October 2023 and Israel’s merciless response, he telephoned the tiny Christian community in Gaza to offer them accompaniment, prayers and encouragement. His final message to the city of Rome and to the world on Easter Sunday was all about spreading peace. He said;
“What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of our world! How much violence we see, often even within families, directed at women and children! How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!” He continued: “On this day…I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible. Christ is risen! These words capture the whole meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. Easter is the celebration of life! God created us for life …In his eyes, every life is precious!”
The decoration on his coffin will be simple – one word, “Franciscus”, “Francis”. But, please God, the legacy of his example will be long lasting. Pope Francis often expressed his sense of personal unworthiness. He insisted, ‘I am a sinner’, but he also liked to remind us that the face of God is mercy. So now, we commend his soul to our merciful, loving God who understands all our weaknesses and frailties, yet loves each of us deeply.
Whenever anyone was saying goodbye to Pope Francis after a meeting, he’d often take them by the hand, look them in the eye, and say, “pray for me”. Then with a playful wag of his finger, he’d add, “and don’t forget!”
As we prepare to say our final farewell to Franciscus, let’s remember his humble words: “pray for me. And don’t forget!”
ENDS
- This Mass will be celebrated at 7.00pm in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. Archbishop Eamon Martin is Archbishop of Armagh, Apostolic Administrator of Dromore and Primate of All Ireland.
