It has been a year since you went home to be with our Father in Heaven.
This time has flown by, and yet, it feels as though we have lived a thousand lifetimes in these last 12 months. Our world, hopelessly fractured at the time of your death, has somehow become even worse. Global conflicts have continued to escalate and spiral.
It’s hard to know where to begin about the United States. Mass deportations are underway. Our international aid investments have been gutted, causing devastating ripple effects in vulnerable communities across the globe. We’ve pulled back on urgent environmental regulations and out of international treaties – actions that will have untold longitudinal impacts. Political violence occurs at a frequency not seen in generations. As a country, we are further divided and deeply polarized.
But of course, you already know all of this.
And yet, there have been glimmers of hope and transformation. The College of Cardinals surprised us last year at the Conclave, emerging with a dark horse candidate for Papal successor – your personal friend and confidante, Cardinal Robert Prevost. An American! A global citizen! A man of both the people and the clergy! An unlikely but brilliant and Spirit-filled choice.
We had high hopes when our new Holy Father chose the name of the founding father of social doctrine, Pope Leo XIII, and have not been disappointed. Already, Pope Leo has spoken out prophetically about the poor and marginalized, migrants and refugees, and those impacted by war. He has called to task global leaders on the matter of world peace, reminding them (and all of us) that “Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.” Amidst a cacophony of noise and bombast, he has offered calm, consistency, and clarity. No muss, no fuss. Just matter of fact-ness spoken in plain, midwestern English.
I imagine you must be supremely proud of your friend, Bob, and a little chagrined. You knew what you were doing in 2023 by summoning then Bishop Prevost from Peru, positioning him as the head of the Dicastery for Bishops, and ultimately elevating him to Cardinal. I think you anticipated how the Spirit might move during that Conclave. (But, thank you for whatever role you might have played behind the scenes in that fourth and historic vote that brought Pope Leo into our lives.)
Thank you, too, for preparing us “for such a time as this.” When I think of the way that so many faithful have risen to the challenge of this moment, I credit you as one of the reasons we were equipped and ready for the task. You spent your entire Papacy focused on reorienting us to the Gospel message and giving us the language of protagonism, encounter, and accompaniment. You led by example – visiting migrants and refugees, washing the feet of the incarcerated, and delighting in our beloved human family across the globe. A lot of us received that message and are following your example – from Pope Leo and the active American Cardinals to the Catholic faithful in all aspects of life and ministry. At a time of deep despair, it has been lifegiving to see our leaders and our laity take action and stand on the side of what is right and just.
It’s happening, Pope Francis. We miss you (so much), but your work, your vision for the Church, and the seeds that you planted are growing.
Pray that we may continue to carry on in your legacy and in His name.
