Thought For The Day –  Friday 25^th April 2025

On Easter Monday, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina, who initially trained to be a scientist,  and took the name Francis when he became the first ever Pope from Latin America in 2013, passed away from this life.  

Saint Francis of Assisi was the humble saint of the poor and the environment.  It was the first time a Pope had been called Francis and set the tone for the 12 year Papacy to come.

Pope Francis has now been called “home”.  

Tomorrow,  Saturday, Pope Francis’ funeral will take place in Rome.  It will be attended by global leaders and everyday people.  The world will come to Pope Francis, just as Pope Francis came to the world.  Such community and togetherness is a fitting legacy.

For the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world today, and many more previously,   the Pope is even more than a global leader, though still very much a human being.  Catholics believe that, when Jesus ascended to Heaven authority was passed, through The Holy Spirit, to the Disciples and then, after them, the Church in what is known as “The Apostolic Succession.” The Pope is “The Vicar of Christ” and successor to the disciple Peter, As such, the teaching of the Church, or “Magisterium”, inspired by The Holy Spirit, has very important authority in Catholicism.  

Other Christians, and other faiths, and other people, have different emphases and respected moral guides, theologies and philosophies.

But Pope Francis respected and worked with, and was respected by, all.  He transcended denomination.  

Pope Francis was deeply committed to compassion, hope, forgiveness, peace, the marginalized, the poor, refugees and the vulnerable.  Pope Francis reached out globally. He was the first Pope to visit Saudi Arabia, for example.  He led on the environment. He talked with, and listened to, people of different faiths and those of no, or unknown,  faith. Pope Francis  made the LGBTQ+ community feel included and welcome, with blessings for same sex relationships. Pope Francis was a symbolic leader at the time of the global pandemic, leading on health, safety, science and wellbeing.  Pope Francis stood up to evil and wrong, horrific situations beyond words to describe,  confronting all forms of abuse, war and violence, which he said brought the deepest tears and weeping to God.  Pope Francis prioritized kindness, love of God and neighbour, respect and safety.  

Not everyone, including perhaps us,  will have agreed with all of Pope Francis’ beliefs, on abortion, contraception, euthanasia, gender reassignment and surrogacy, for example. 

Feminist Theologians, and many more,  continue to stress the importance of equality in leadership and beyond. 

But, for sure, Pope Francis, was a humble and loving Pope of the people.  This was shown in actions.  Even when he was very ill last week, he was still leading, being with people,  in Holy Week,  at 88 years-of-age.  The suffering Pope alongside all who suffer.

Good humour, humility, service and simplicity characterized Pope Francis until his final earthly day.

“Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities for others which we seek for ourselves”, said Pope Francis.

When Pope Francis was once asked about same sex relationships, he said:  “Who am I to judge?”

When Pope Francis was asked to describe himself, he replied that he was “a sinner”.

Pope Francis’ autobiography is called “Hope”.