The whole Christendom is still mourning the death of Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio). We all know that he was not feeling well before he died, though, we thought that he will still recover from his illness. With his medical condition and old age, we were prepared to see him go and bid him our last respects through our prayers.
Let me write something about Pope Francis, something that will always remain in me, and something that I will always try to imitate.
His humility is immeasurable especially in the midst of this world where power and materialism reigns as never before. One classic example is the humble washing of the prisoners’ feet which includes criminals and non-Christians. I just cannot imagine how he did it as a Pope when I cannot even imagine myself doing it as a priest. We saw his love for the marginalized as he embraced the children, the poor, the sick, and the elderly. Indeed, he smelled like the sheep to which he was the pastor.
The entire world knew about his life story when he died. We knew about his early life and upbringing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He worked as a nightclub bouncer, a Tango dancer, and other jobs which are unthought of as a prelude to a wonderful vocation to the priesthood. His formative years, education, his spiritual journey, and his peculiar experiences shaped his values that are centered to what he had become as a Pope.
When he was elected to the papacy, he chose the name FRANCIS, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. I presume we know the life of this great man, Francis of Assisi, a son of a wealthy merchant, but renounced his worldly possessions to embrace a life of poverty and devotion to God. Becoming Pope Francis is not easy, especially in the midst of a world torn by war, poverty, and too much love for money and power. How can he preach to the powerful and wealthy individuals of this world simply by living out his chosen papal name? His preaching went far and wide because he lived what he preached. He renounced the Apostolic Palace and chose to live instead at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a simple guesthouse within the Vatican City. He preferred this simpler accommodation to reflect his commitment to a life of humility. He carried his own bag during his travels and drove his modest 1984 Renault around the Vatican.
The leadership style of Pope Francis deviated from the usual style employed by some powerful world leaders. He did not choose the rich and the powerful as advantages to his agenda, but he chose to let the poor, the sick, the victims of social injustice, and those in the peripheries of this world to echo his message of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness. Known for his humility, Pope Francis led by example, often choosing simplicity over extravagance. His actions resonated with people of various faiths and societal status.
This is the legacy of Pope Francis which are worth imitating and lived out by the bishops, the clergy, and peoples from all levels of society. His legacy, his humility and compassion, is a reminder for all of us that the Catholic Church is an inclusive church who is ready to embrace everyone in her fold. The rich and the poor, the handsome and the ugly, the learned and the uneducated, children and adults, men and women, lesbians, and gay people. Yes, all of us have a voice that needs to be heard, and we have a place inside this Church whom Pope Francis loved so greatly.
One last thing, I was so touched when I heard the story about the issue on gay clergy, he simply said: “Who am I to judge?” How I wish I will learn from him, let us learn from his example before we judge people. Pope Francis, please grant me the grace to be able to imitate your life, one step at a time, until I can say: “Who am I to judge?”