Now that Pope Francis has died, what can you tell me about the man and his legacy in the church? I know he has been much criticised, but I personally think he has done much good.
As you say, Pope Francis has been criticised, as all popes are to varying degrees, but he has also done an incredible amount of good for the church. He was elected in March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, so he has been leading the church for just over 12 years.
One of the most important aspects of his legacy has been to show the world the face of Jesus Christ: the face of kindness and mercy, of concern for the homeless, the marginalised, the refugees, the sick, the imprisoned. He has gone out of his way to visit these people, to speak with them, and draw the attention of the world to their plight.
After the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, he rang the Holy Family parish in Gaza City to show his fatherly concern and support, and he continued doing so nearly every day thereafter, including during his hospitalisation for treatment of pneumonia at the end of his life.
He was a true father, who cared about his children. And he gave the church the Year of Mercy in 2016, inviting us to reflect on how we could show more mercy to those around us
Pope Francis adopted a simple lifestyle, doing away with anything that could show attachment to material things. Soon after his election he went personally to pay the bill for the accommodation where he had been staying before the conclave.
When he left the Gemelli hospital recently to return to the Vatican after his long treatment for pneumonia, he rode in a small Fiat 500, a very modest vehicle indeed. It is a lesson of simplicity and detachment, that the world needs to see and embrace.
Instead of living in the lavish papal apartments where his predecessors had lived for centuries, he chose to live in the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican’s guest house.
He explained that he needed to be around people, not living on his own. There other guests, much to their surprise, would sometimes find themselves going up in the lift with the Holy Father.
His major documents contained lessons we should all take on board. To mention but a few, already in his first year as pope he released the Apostolic Exhortation The joy of the Gospel (2013), calling the church to a renewed effort of evangelisation, which is so important in today’s world.
His Apostolic Exhortation The joy of love (2016) is a rich document on marriage, family and love. Another Apostolic Exhortation, Rejoice and be glad (2018), on the call to holiness in today’s world, shows how all are called to be saints in their ordinary life. Christ is Alive! (2019) is a beautiful letter to the youth of the church, calling them to fulfil their important mission in the world.
The pope had a great love for young people. And Fratelli tutti (2020) is a call to brotherhood and harmony in a fractured world. Would that all Catholics read these documents.
Pope Francis had great devotion to Our Lady. Before his overseas trips he would go to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to entrust the fruits of his trip to Mary. And on returning, he would go back there to thank Our Lady for her intercession.
He would pray in the Basilica before the ancient icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, Health, or salvation, of the Roman people, which he loved. And, departing from a long tradition, he asked to be laid to rest in that Basilica. And, of course, he prayed the rosary regularly and often exhorted the people to say it.
Pope Francis also had great devotion to St Joseph. He chose the feast of St Joseph for the inauguration of his pontificate, and he gave the church a Year of St Joseph in 2021. Our Lady and St Joseph will surely now be welcoming him home to heaven.
At a time when many people don’t believe in the devil, Pope Francis spoke often about him and warned about his insidious activity. He erected a statue of St Michael, the Archangel, in the Vatican gardens and entrusted the church to his powerful care.
Now that God has called Pope Francis to himself, we should pray very much for his soul, entrusting him to the mercy of God. And we can pray also for his successor, whoever he may be