Easter and the Legacy of Pope Francis

Running back downtown from Hamden along the bike path this morning, it felt as if I were breathing in the glory of this Easter day—fully aware, of course, that my seasonal allergies are about to ramp up big time. As I prayed the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, I found myself thinking a lot about Pope Francis, who passed from this life into eternity in the pre-dawn hours of Easter Monday.

Personally, I am deeply saddened by the passing of our Holy Father. At the same time, I am immensely grateful for this remarkable human being who led our Church for the past twelve years. Pope Francis was elected in 2013, one year before I was ordained to the priesthood. From the very beginning of his ministry—when he celebrated Holy Thursday in a prison for young people and washed the feet of a diverse group of prisoners—his humility, boldness, tireless work ethic, outreach to those on the margins, and genuine care for those who felt excluded or alienated from the Church moved and inspired me.

His example continues to challenge me: to be a pastor who shepherds with “the smell of the sheep,” to take seriously the call to listen, and to be abundantly generous in extending the Church’s healing mercy.

At the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis called us to be “missionary disciples,” sent by Christ to proclaim and bear witness to the joy of the Gospel—and not to be, in his words, “sourpusses.” He urged that the Church, the Body of Christ in the world, be a Church of mercy—like a “field hospital,” present to the wounded, especially the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those living in poverty, not only materially but also spiritually and morally.

The Pope has been a prophetic voice in a world bleeding from war, injustice, indifference, isolation, environmental degradation, and manifold sins against human dignity. His fearlessness and conviction have been both inspiring and challenging to anyone truly listening.

In that same spirit, Pope Francis consistently called for a more inclusive, welcoming, and “listening” Church. As he once asked in a homily:

“Let us ask: In the Church, are we good at listening? How good is the hearing of our heart? Do we allow people to express themselves, to walk in faith even though they have had difficulties in life, and to be part of the life of the community without being hindered, rejected, or judged? Let us not soundproof our hearts.”

Grateful for the important work of his predecessors—Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI—I hope and pray that these aspects of Francis’s legacy will continue to inspire the Church for generations to come.

As we, along with the universal Church—and the world—mourn the death of our beloved Holy Father, we trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the coming days, as the Church prepares to elect a new pope. We do this in the “early hours” of what the Church calls the “great Sunday”—the Easter Season, a time of joy and celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who in rising from the dead destroyed death forever.

In what would be his final urbi et orbi address—to the City and to the World—Pope Francis spoke beautifully of the joy of this season, even in the face of the world’s suffering. He said:

“From the empty tomb in Jerusalem we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, ‘is not here, he has risen’ (Lk 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive!

Love triumphed over hatred, light over darkness, and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.

“Sisters and brothers, especially those of you experiencing pain and sorrow, your silent cry has been heard and your tears have been counted; not one of them has been lost! In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: ‘Christ, my hope, has risen!’ (Easter Sequence).

The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ—crucified and risen from the dead—hope does not disappoint!”

Striding into the final two hundred meters between Payne Whitney Gym and STM on Park Street, I thought of one of the last exhortations from Pope Francis’s Easter homily: “We cannot settle for the fleeting things of this world or give in to sadness; we must run, filled with joy. Let us run toward Jesus.”