Watching Pope Francis’ funeral, I noticed something curious. There’s a debate about who had the “better seat” and was closest to the coffin that held the pope’s body. The Vatican noted that it broke protocol to accommodate Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, a last-minute addition, who were seated in the front row, as was President Trump and the first lady, a Catholic. If scripture is true and “The last shall be first and the first shall be last,” the place of honor is those who were sitting in the back.
We could go on and on about being invited to the table and the political jockeying to make things happen and be diplomatic, as the Mass offers opportunities to help heal riffs in countries and offers an olive branch during the sign of peace. What is important to remember is that Francis was a pope who reached out to those on the margins and this was stated in no uncertain terms in Cardinal Re’s homily.
The LA Times reported, “Though presidents and princes attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants welcomed Francis’ coffin at his final resting place in a basilica across town.”
“The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open,” Re said, noting that with his travels, the Argentine pontiff reached “the most peripheral of the peripheries of the world.”
Pope Francis’ humility was at the forefront of his papacy. As a cardinal he was a regular on the bus and talked with people in his community, and as pope, he was caught sneaking out of the Vatican to visit a local pizza shop. He took the name of Francis after Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscans who was called by God to “rebuild his church.” During his election his fellow cardinal told him to “remember the poor.” Francis vowed he would and stayed true to his word.
Pope Francis was the first Jesuit appointed to the pontificate. Although Jesuits are not ones who accept positions of authority in the Church, he was a rare exception and became known as a tremendous administrator in addition to his tremendous intellect. The Jesuit order is known for its intellectual work and advancement in collegial studies, the order is also known for its social justice and missionary work working with the poor and seeking people out on the margins to inspire hope.
Moving out of the Vatican palace and into a humble hotel room, the pope attended to his business. Simplicity was key. Not one for glamourous robes, he still had the shoes made for him by a cobbler in Argentina. They say his only possessions could fit into a shoebox. His yearly stipend of 400,000 was donated to other causes.
A Jesuit in heart and mind to the end, Pope Francis reached out to the migrant communities. He often clashed with president Trump over building a wall between Mexico and the United States border, stating “a leader should be building bridges, not walls.”
He told priests, “The church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners.” This statement is important because it was an insight into how the Church would be reaching out to those in margins. Hailing from a political powder keg country like Argentina, he saw his share of suffering through war and the political despots who wreaked havoc in his country. Cardinal Bergolio navigated treacherous political waters.
Pope Francis wasn’t without his controversies. As a Provincial superior in the Jesuit order two priests were abducted and tortured. Bergolio was accussed of not protecting them and handing them over to the military. One priest forgave Bergolio, the other didn’t. A situation like that stays with a man. Pope Francis was well aware of protecting those who served.
During his papacy Francis was accused of protecting a few people, a Bishop from Chile and Cardinal McCarrick in the US. When one of the bishops was accused he sided with the Bishop saying the allegations were false. Later he learned the allegations were true he asked forgiveness from those who were abused.
On the other hand, he was critical of clericalism and priests who thought they were better than others because of their position. Francis consistently called priests to the carpet for
Conservative cardinals took exception to his open-hearted approach to his papacy. He never changed doctrine, but his interpretation of the gospels and the recognition of “mercy” as a theme for his papacy garnered some criticism from hardline conservatives and was challenged by cardinals appointed by Pope Benedict and John Paul II.
He became a member of the Holy Family congregation by calling every night at “pope o’clock.” Judging from the videos posted from congregants, his calls inspired deep and abiding authentic joy and inspiration to fight through the hardship.
Pope Francis appointed cardinals from faraway places. Cardinal Ambo David, Cardinal of a remote part of the Philippines was overwhelmed by the appointment. He jokingly told the pope he wasn’t expecting him to change his life again and he was mad at the pope for not even letting him know. Pope Francis replied, “Learn to take things with a grain of divine humor.”
On the whole, Francis tried to give others a voice. He appointed women to higher positions in the Church. He also recognized the blessings of same sex couples though he did not allow for the recognition of same sex marriages. Although some progressives felt he didn’t go far enough, his recognition of the dignity of every human being was always at the forefront of his decisions.
Francis is being buried outside the Vatican walls at the papal basilica of Mary Major. Interestingly enough, this is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Rome and a church he would frequent before making trips abroad. It stands to reason he would be buried here.
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