mississippicatholic.com
APRIL 25, 2025
Global pastor: In word and deed, pope preached mercy, outreach By Cindy Wooden
acts of loving kindness. Following in the footsteps of his preVATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, who decessors, Pope Francis was an untiring died April 21 at the age of 88, gave new envoice for peace, urging an end to armed ergy to millions of Catholics – and caused conflict, supporting dialogue and encourconcern for some – as he transformed the aging reconciliation. The pope described image of the papacy into a pastoral minRussia’s invasion of Ukraine as “madistry based on personal encounters and ness” and called on the world’s bishops strong convictions about poverty, mission to join him in consecrating Ukraine and and dialogue. Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberWhen Hamas militants attacked commulain of the Holy Roman Church, announced nities in Israel, killing scores of people that Pope Francis had died at 7:35 a.m. and taking more than 200 people hostage “His whole life was dedicated to the in late 2023, and Israel retaliated by atservice of the Lord and his church,” Cartacking Gaza, Pope Francis made repeatdinal Farrell said in a video announcement ed appeals for the return of hostages, a broadcast from the chapel of the Domus ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid, and Sanctae Marthae, where Pope Francis a real commitment to a negotiated peace. lived. Promoting peace, solidarity and reHis gestures – from tenderly embracspect for the Earth, the pope insisted ing the sick to repeatedly visiting prisonpeople needed to recognize each other as ers – touched millions of hearts. But conbrothers and sisters and issued an encyctroversy raged over his denunciations of lical about that, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraterthe excesses of unbridled capitalism, his nity and Social Friendship.” He signed the warnings about the human contributions text at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi on to climate change and his insistence on acthe saint’s feast day, Oct. 4, 2020. companying, not judging, gay people. Pope Francis spent much of the first With bronchitis and difficulty breathnine years of his pontificate pursuing ing, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s two ambitious projects: revitalizing the Gemelli hospital Feb. 14. He was diagnosed church’s efforts at evangelization – conwith double pneumonia and a complex stantly urging outreach rather than a preinfection. He had returned to the Vatican occupation with internal church affairs – March 23 to continue his convalescence. and reforming the central administration God’s mercy was a constant theme in of the Vatican, emphasizing its role of Pope Francis’ preaching and was so cenassisting bishops around the world rather tral to his vision of what the church’s minthan dictating policy to them. istry must embody that he proclaimed an On March 19, 2022, the ninth anniverextraordinary Holy Year of Mercy for Dec. sary of the inauguration of his papacy, he 8, 2015-Nov. 20, 2016. finally promulgated “Praedicate EvangeElected March 13, 2013, Pope Francis lium” (“Preach the Gospel”), his complete was the first pope in history to come from restructuring of the Roma Curia, highthe Southern Hemisphere, the first non-Eulighting its mission to serve the church’s ropean to be elected in almost 1,300 years evangelization efforts at all levels. and the first Jesuit to serve as successor to His simple lifestyle, which included St. Peter. his decision not to live in the Apostolic In the first three years of his papacy, he Palace and his choice of riding around published three major documents: “EvanRome in a small Fiat or Ford instead of gelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argen- a Mercedes sedan, sent a message of a detailed vision of the program for his tina, waves after praying at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome austerity to Vatican officials and clergy papacy and his vision for the church – particularly the church’s outreach and March 14, 2013. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge throughout the church. He reinforced its response to challenges posed by secu- Mario Bergoglio, died April 21, 2025, at age 88. (CNS photo/Ales- the message with frequent admonitions lar culture; “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our sandro Bianchi, Reuters) – Continued on page 6 – Common Home,” on the environment; and “AmINSIDE THIS WEEK oris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), his reflections FOLLOW US on the discussions of the synods of bishops on the family in 2014 and 2015. Holiness was the topic of his March 2018 apostol@jacksondiocese ic exhortation, “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice DIGITAL EDITION and Be Glad”) in which he insisted being holy is Religious workers 7 From the Archives 8 Millions of Monicas 4 Text not boring or impossible, Bishops back bill easing Sister Thea Bowman Jubilee Local prayer group asks for and that it grows through MSCATHOLIC small, daily gestures and path for perm. residency of Hope Tour set for fall St. Monica’s intercession to 84576