Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I can remember the days and weeks following the election and installation of Pope Francis back in 2013, and the breath of fresh air he brought to the church. Here was a pope whose first public words after his election were “Buona sera!” Here was a pope who went back to the hotel he had been staying at prior to the conclave to pay his bill! Here was a pope with a sense of humor who loved to laugh with people. People seemed so happy and many started coming back to church. We thought of it as “The Francis Effect.”
The day of his funeral on Saturday, April 26th was bright and sunny – a perfect Roman spring morning. While there was a certain sadness at that moment, there was also a palpable feeling of joy and thanksgiving that we had been so fortunate to have had him with us as our Holy Father. The Francis Effect was still there.
We can hope that the legacy of Pope Francis will continue to imbue the Catholic Church with a sense of compassion and mercy, of care for the environment, and an urgency to make the Gospel more evident in the world. As Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said in his homily at the Pope’s Funeral Mass, “He was a Pope among the people”, with an open heart towards everyone, especially the marginalised, the least among us, but “also a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church.”
As the world’s Cardinals prepare to enter the conclave on May 7, let us pray for a new pope who will continue to shepherd the Church with zeal for the Gospel, and compassion for all.
It was fitting that, shortly after Pope Francis was laid to rest, members of our parish joined many others to Walk Against Hunger here in Hartford. Fr. Mike took some photos during the walk which I’d like to share with you.
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor