THE LONG READ: Warm tribute paid to late Pope Francis by Offaly columnist

“Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcome, loved and forgiven.”

Pope Francis - one of the most open-minded, caring, compassionate, merciful, humble, hopeful and pastoral Popes in recent history died on April 21—Easter Monday—aged 88.

Pope Francis' life was a testament to the Gospel’s call to serve the poor, homeless, needy and marginalized. A man of God, a prayerful faithful man and such a man of the people and especially of the poorest of the poor and those most in need in our world. A true pastoral Pope of humility, mercy, poverty, hope, compassion and righteous social justice. Pope Francis’ choice of name upon his election was no mere formality, it was a declaration of his commitment to the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi and like St. Francis, he championed simplicity, care for creation, and a radical love for the poor, homeless and marginalized. From the outset of his pontificate he desired to see “a poor church for poor people”. He championed the causes of the poor, advocated for refugees, homeless people and families, and called for urgent action on climate change, urging the world to care for “our common home.”

Pope Francis’s dedication to inclusivity and mercy redefined the Church’s approach to many social issues. He emphasised that the Church should be a “field hospital” for the wounded, focusing on healing and compassion rather than judgment. His famous words, “Who am I to judge?” signified a transformative shift towards a more understanding and open Church. His papacy was marked by a tireless pursuit of justice, mercy, faithfulness to God, prayerfulness and fraternity, reminding the world that true greatness lies in true prayerful active service. With the whole Church I grieve the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. As Christ’s Vicar, he taught us to resist throwaway culture and practice hospitality, compassion and mercy. He urged us to evangelize with joy and mercy and look to the future with hope. These are lessons that we all should aspire to incorporate into our own life journey's.

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A Pope of poverty

Pope Francis was a humble man of poverty, most especially in the sense of detachment from the created things of this world and simplicity of life. In this way he was a profound witness to how one can overcome the temptation to possessions, power, and control and the empty and life-defeating values of secularism.

The extent to which the Holy Father was a man of peace and prayer is found in his constant call for the end of all violence and war. As a true follower of Christ, the Holy Father’s deepest wounds were revealed in the world’s violence, death, and destruction, all of which he cried out against. His clarion call for peace was truly an echo of Christ’s own. He was also a man who loved and protected creation, he revealed how authentic disciples view the created world and the gifts it holds for us. Reaching deeply into Scripture, Pope Francis reminded us that we are stewards and caretakers of creation, not owners who can recklessly destroy what has been lovingly placed in our hands. His entire life was dedicated to the service of God and his Church and the people of the whole world.

He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. His faith, humility, courage and dedication touched the hearts of millions, making him a moral compass of our time and beyond. His legacy of peace and solidarity will remain an enduring example. My thoughts go out to all those who continue to be inspired by his unwavering values of communication and fraternity. Pope Francis taught us to see the world with eyes of love, humility, prayer and action of Gospel living. His words ignited movements, his actions touched hearts, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations. He was a man of deep faith, profound humility, and unshakable hope. A servant whose tireless call to care for the poor, the homeless and the marginalized will hopefully continue to inspire the Church for generations to come.

May we honour his memory by building a Church that reflects the face of Jesus, merciful, welcoming, and always near to those on the margins. His humility and kindness made him a ‘pope of the people.' He encouraged us how to follow Jesus and asked us to go and do it in our life's journey. He was a beacon of compassion, humility, prayer and mercy.

A time to mourn

I grieve not merely for the loss of a Pope, but for a man who redefined kindness and exemplified humility as strength. He spoke of love as a fundamental duty rather than a mere doctrine, embodying a universal spirituality that transcended religious boundaries. His unwavering belief in God was matched by his faith in humanity, seeing dignity in every individual rather than divisions. With a gentle yet powerful voice, he conveyed truths that often challenged the status quo, reminding us of the goodness that still exists amidst a world filled with noise, hate, conflict, likes, greed, and cynicism.

Pope Francis chose love over doctrine, compassion over judgment, joy over hate, hope over despair and action over mere applause, walking alongside the marginalized and confronting the powerful with moral courage. He taught us that holiness is not confined to places of worship but is a way of living and seeing others through the lens of kindness and prayer. As we mourn his passing, we must honour his legacy by becoming beacons of light ourselves, drawing inspiration from his faith in humanity to navigate the complexities of life with courage and compassion. Pope Francis was a servant of the word of salvation, a servant of the word of eternal life, a servant of the word of reconciliation, a servant of the word that ‘went out’ from God and ‘was made flesh’, a servant of the word of truth and a servant of the powerful word of God.

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Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, let us always be grateful to Pope Francis who dedicated his life to the marginalised, displaced and dispossessed. A rare voice for humanity, he spent his final days on this earth calling for peace. Let his enduring legacy of empathy, courage and kindness inspire us to build a more humane world for all. As we bid farewell to this extraordinary leader, we pray that his legacy will continue to inspire hearts across the world.

The mark of his rich pastoral legacy”is “indelible. While we are sad as we will miss him in this world, as Easter people we believe in the Resurrection and believe that Pope Francis has gone home to our Father and now shares in the life of the risen Christ. As we reflect on his legacy, I hope and pray that we will all be inspired to continue his good life giving and life saving work with renewed vigour, guided by his example of selfless service, mercy, compassion and deep empathy. Heartfelt condolences at this time to the global Catholic community and all who mourn his loss. May his soul rest in the eternal peace of Christ, and may his example guide us ever closer to the Gospel’s call to love and serve.

A few candles lighting and a poem of remembrance to everyone that knew you Pope Francis, especially to your family, friends, fellow priests, colleagues and the Catholic fraternities of our world... "Somewhere in the early morning of eternity you are now running free on the fields of Heaven with many angels holding you so lovingly. Loosed from the chains, cassocks and bonds of earth; unchained from all that bound you here. The years together were too brief, yet who is to measure time? Or how long is long enough. You brought Joy, Energy, Mercy, Compassion, Kindness, Forgiveness, Passion and whispered Hope, To those who loved you most especially the poorest of the poor. A single thread of illness pulled you beyond to the moment of now. We cannot fully understand nor shall we try, we simply know that in the vastness of all that is you are running free on the fields of all tomorrows in heaven with Our Lord and all our loved ones gone before you. And a lone seagull calls to you and you respond with laughter. You carry now, no burden, no chain nor bond to hold you. You carry only the warmth and the love of those who cared. So run free Pope Francis and your fellow loved ones who went before you and open your arms and touch the clouds and dance with the morning sun and know that even in our tears we celebrate with you as you enjoy the fields of heaven and bid you good journey, till we meet again and we will always love you and thank you for your kindness, guidance, prayers, charity, mercy, forgiveness, hope, words of wisdom, talents and passion for all things life. Rest in Peace Pope Francis, our brother, our leader, our shepherd, our inspiration, our Pope. Thank you for the gift, grace, prayers, fasting, reflections on God's word and inspiration of your life and teachings; for your inclusion of all; for your love for your people, especially the poor and those most in need, the refugee, the homeless and the marginalised; for your love for our Mother Earth and for your boundless mercy, compassion and work for peace and for your offerings of the Holy Eucharist. May the angels lead you to paradise where you will be raised up with Christ in glory. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.