A Reflection on Pope Francis

The Death of Pope Francis Stuck Me (An Anglican Reflection).

I woke up this morning to a text from my father saying that Pope Francis has died. I was struck.

Honestly, I do not presume that my reflections carry the weight or eloquence of the many voices now offering their condolences, praises, and grief for the late Bishop of Rome. Yet still, I find myself struck…perhaps more than I expected. So I write…

As an Anglican, I do not fully adhere to the claims made by our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters about the Vicar of Rome. However, I do recognize the significance of the chair of St. Peter, the first among equals, the bishopric of Rome, and the See from which Canterbury eventually sprang. I see Christianity not merely through the lens of Anglicanism but as part of the broader apostolic orthodoxy that inhabits many traditions from the East to the West, including the Roman Rite.

And still, I find myself reflecting on Pope Francis. I have disagreed with him at times; some of his decisions and teachings I’ve found confusing, even frustrating. Other times, I thought he was doing an excellent job. But this Eastertide morning, I was stuck upon hearing the news of his death. I was reminded of something quieter, more enduring: he truly embodied our Lord and his namesake.

St. Francis of Assisi (Pope Francis’ namesake) loved the poor, stood with the marginalized, and longed for the preaching of the gospel among all people. Pope Francis did the same. His advocacy for the poor and oppressed was not performative but incarnational. He strived for the unity of the Church. In that, he reflected the life of our Lord.

I saw a photo today of Pope Francis embracing a man whose body was covered in warts (the photo). In that image, I saw Jesus touching the bleeding woman, Jesus healing the leper, and Jesus with the outcast. I remembered seeing on Catholic media that Pope Francis was calling the Church in Gaza daily, even amid intense violence; his love for his flock, the forgotten and voiceless, mirrored Christ’s love.

While our interpretations of his papacy might have varied at times (especially during his life), I believe we might be struck with something quite different in hindsight. I believe we can already say this: Pope Francis bore witness to the Gospel in ways that left an imprint on the world.

As my Archbishop, Steve Wood, has encouraged the Anglican Church in North America to pray for our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. To pray that the Holy Spirit would guide the College of Cardinals as they discern the next Bishop of Rome. I will do so, though I also shall mourn with the mourning and praise God for a man who, in many ways, embodied the love of Christ.

Let us pray:

O’ Lord, grant Pope Francis eternal rest and let your perpetual light shine upon him. And may his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. +