Slan Abhaile, Pope Francis

By TOM DENNEHY

We say goodbye to our beautiful Pope Francis who left such a legacy to each and every one of us. He was Jesus walking amongst us dispensing the love and mercy of God. He was friend to the poor, the outcasts, the refugees and people of all faiths. Jesus died for every single person and Pope Francis was intent on ensuring that no one person, regardless of creed or race, was denied the grace of God. His first work, Evangelii Gaudium - The Joy of the Gospel, written in 2013, covers many topics that will deeply impact our church for many generations and offers a roadmap for a new era of evangelization. Above all it points out the need to have a personal relationship with the saving love of Jesus Christ.

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. “Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew.” He goes on to say, “Whenever we take a step towards Jesus we come to realize that he is already there, waiting with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus, Lord I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am here once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again. Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace.”

The dignity of the human person was close to his heart. We are created in the image and likeness of God and we are brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ by the merits of our baptism. Our need for a renewal of our Church by baptism of the Holy Spirit was a constant call from him. He declared a Year of Mercy in 2015 and we currently celebrate his call for a Jubilee Year with its theme of Pilgrims of Hope.

Pope Francis compared our saving mission to working in a field hospital healing the wounds and hurts that life throws upon us. In his recent time in hospital, suffering from double pneumonia, he gave a wonderful reflection about the care and wonderful love that is shared in the hospital environment.

“The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches. They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those at airports. It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor; a privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar. In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist; a police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care; a wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor. In these moments when the hospital touches the wounds of people, those different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing. The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or the real threat of an irreversible loss.”

Pope Francis points out to us that a hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence. He says, “This life will pass quickly so do not waste it fighting with people. Do not criticize your own body too much. Do not complain excessively. Do not lose sleep over bills. Make sure to hug your loved ones. Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless.”

He warns us about the dangers of materialism and tells us, “Material goods must be earned by each person – do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance. You are waiting for far too much; Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect. Perfection does not exist. A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here. Here we are given an opportunity to learn. So, make the most of the trial of life and do it now.”

Pope Francis advises us to “Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path and let go of the paths others have chosen for you. Respect; do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere. Love more, forgive more, embrace more, and live more intensely! And leave the rest in the hands of God our creator.”

As we say farewell to our Pope Francis, we pray that his successor will continue his great work.