Pope Francis: Requiescat in Pace
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He became a novice with the Jesuits in 1958 and was later ordained a priest in December 1969. After pursuing various studies and other positions with the Society of Jesus throughout Europe, he returned to his homeland of Argentina in the late 1980s, and became Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in early 2001. It is believed that Bergoglio was the runner-up to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) at the conclave in 2005 following the death of JPII. Thus it was that eight years later on March 13, 20213, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Bishop of Rome by the conclave on the fifth ballot. Taking the name Francis, he became the first pope ever from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.
On Easter Day, April 20, 2025, Pope Francis made his last public appearance in the same spot where he made his first public appearance as pope twelve years before, greeting crowds and providing an Easter blessing from St. Peter’s. Pope Francis passed away less than 24 hours later, on April 21, 2025 at 7:35 a.m.
A lot transpired in the twelve years of Pope Francis’s pontificate, some good, some bad. To me, it seems the best theme of Pope Francis’s pontificate was his emphasis on mercy. In 2015, Pope Francis announced a special Jubilee Year of Mercy, emphasizing God’s deep desire to pursue and forgive us. Indeed, it seemed to me that Pope Francis genuinely wanted to do his part to export God’s unending mercy around the globe. In an age of cancel culture, shame, vengeance, and condemnation, this was much needed. While Pope Francis’s emphasis on mercy was one of his best traits, it seems to me this was also a point of weakness, and the cause of confusion at times, which was the worst aspect of his papacy. At times, in an apparent effort to reach out to those struggling, Pope Francis seemed to cause doctrinal confusion amongst the faithful (see Amoris Laetitia, Fiducia Supplicans, or his “Who am I to judge?” statement). And at other times, his statements and actions seemed downright absurd, like bringing a pagan idol “Pachamama” into the Vatican and placing restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass in Traditionis custodes, which is beloved by the faithful throughout the world for its enhanced reverence and beauty. Like with any human being though, we must take the good with the bad, and it does neither us nor the Church any good to fall into strict ideological camps, which proclaim that a pope is either all good or all bad. As with any well-known religious or political figure, it will likely take several years, if not decades or centuries, for his legacy to become fully known. Despite some misgivings, Pope Francis was still the Bishop of Rome and Christ’s vicar on earth.
On New Year’s Day, 2022, my wife and I were on our honeymoon in Rome, and were blessed to attend mass with Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica. As Pope Francis processed down the aisle, I began to tear up. I couldn’t help but be in awe at being in the presence of the successor to St. Peter; 2,000 years later, an uninterrupted line of Apostolic Succession, and St. Peter’s successor was right in front of me. I was overcome with gratitude for all of the men and women who came before me, all of the bishops and popes who faithfully carried their cross, and to Almighty God who continued to protect His Church. The following day, my wife and I were coming out of mass at St. Peter’s Basilica when Pope Francis appeared from his apartment window to give a Sunday Angelus message; similar feelings emerged. These encounters made me realize that no matter who the pope is or what mistakes or decisions he may make, he is still Christ’s vicar on earth and the successor to St. Peter, and that man is worthy of all of our prayers, admiration, and goodwill. So, regardless of what Pope Francis’s legacy becomes in the years ahead, let us thank him for his priesthood, his devotion to Christ, and his papacy; and let us pray he is enjoying his Eternal Reward. Requiescat in pace.
Liam
05/10/2025
