Bryce Maloney ‘26
Opinions Editor
As the world awoke on Monday morning, the news that the Holy Father Pope Francis had passed away struck a somber tone for billions of people across the globe. To people of immense faith and of little faith alike, Pope Francis had been a symbol of hope and stability in a world of tumultuous change. The first Jesuit to sit on the throne of Saint Peter, few of his nearly 265 predecessors embodied the spirit of humility and kindness quite like him.
Rising from the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere used his influence to breathe life into a centuries-old institution. From roots as a chemist, and even at times a nightclub bouncer, Francis drew great strength in the lives and challenges of the unseen. Much of his 12 year pontificate was dedicated to uplifting voices which all-too-often fell between the cracks. Historic overseas trips to from countries like war-torn South Sudan and even to the minuscule nation of Timor-Leste, Pope Francis made it his life’s work to administer a church which was truly universal. It was in that commitment to service and dedication to the invisible people of the world in which the deep bond between this shepard and his flock was forged. In short, while the Holy Father had no children of his own, he dedicated his life to use the role God had given him to exemplify fatherly love to the more than 1.3 billion faithful around the world. Preaching the Gospel of his heavenly father, Francis displayed a uniquely parental sense of fortitude, dignity, and character. It was in that unique role as beacon of stability amongst the world’s ever-enduring sense of volatility which made him an unparalleled leader in our time. Reinvigorating the Church’s commitment to the famished and indignant of the world, the late Pope stood as a poignant reminder of a God that was loving and merciful towards all.
Although chosen by his peers to be God’s representative on Earth, Francis never forgot that he too was human. Despite his lofty titles and wide accolades, the aspect of Pope Francis which endeared him most to his people was his ability to bring out the work of God in all of us.
While Pontiffs of days gone by have sought to embody the immaculate and infallible nature of the divine, Pope Francis embodied a sense of godliness which could be seen even in those most imperfect, most neglected members of our society. In order to create a church which was both receptive to the feelings of the modern day, and deeply rooted in the ritual of christian civilization, Francis worked tirelessly to promote a unique form of socioeconomic activism rooted in long-held ecclesiastical values and ideals. From his first day to his last, he never relented in his commitment to the values for which he stood. Nearly 48 hours before he drew his last breath, he ignored the recommendations of medical staff to visit, of all places, a prison: ministering to inmates and staff for more than an hour.
A modest and unpretentious man in one of the world’s most powerful offices, Francis reminded us all that beneath its gilded shroud, the Papacy is a position which calls on its occupants first and foremost to fill the shoes of the humble fisherman. Despite the gilded world in which providence had placed him, he remembered that even Saint Peter himself, the rock on which the Church was built, never lived amongst such finery. As the 266th manifestation of that tradition, Pope Francis was a leader who not only understood this, but lived it everyday.
Now, as the late Bishop of Rome has returned to the house of the Father, we must honor his legacy by continuing the work to which he was so passionately dedicated. While we mourn his death and pray for the salvation of his soul, we must also thank God for the gift of his life and the blessing of his service. Let each of us, in our own way, remind ourselves of the immortal words of our lord who said “Blessed are the peacemakers. For they will be called children of God.”
Featured image courtesy of USA Today
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