Wind of change

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Sorry this is late being posted


 Today, April 22, 2025, the leader of the Catholic Church of our time has gone before us.  Pope Francis died this morning and now takes his place among the many souls that have preceded us in death.  God rest his weary soul and may he rest in the peace of Jesus Christ, whose gospel Pope Francis spread with great love and zeal.

A couple of things to note about the timing of this great pope's passing:

1. Think of all of the months Francis spent in the hospital earlier this year.  At the age of 88, he battled a major pneumonia and beat it.  Was God's reason for the Pope's survival to remind us of the gift of hope and the strength to persevere in the hope of Jesus Christ's resurrection?

2. It is fitting that he died on Earth Day.  His care and concern for the planet's natural resources came through in his encyclical Laudatio Si.  Of course, every day is Earth Day.  However, the Holy Father's humble background growing up in Argentina is difficult surroundings gave him a unique perspective on the planet.

In every respect, the Church will be celebrating the hope that Pope Francis had for the new life of the Church.  We will celebrate a legacy, that when he was even elected, was not supposed to last very long because of his fragile health -- part of a lung having been surgically removed.  And now we await the next papal conclave to begin.  If you've seen the movie, don't read into it.  Remember, it's not a biographical nor true story -- it's a fictitious film.

Pray that the Holy Spirit guides the Cardinals who will gather for that election process soon enough.  For now, while we all know that Pope Francis had his detractors, I pray we can all come together in mourning and hope for the future of the Catholic Church because of the life and teachings of Pope Francis. 


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