Dear Friends,
Like so many across the world, we were sorry to hear the news of Pope Francis' death. Pope Francis, the People's Pope", from Argentina, was the first Franciscan and non-European Pope, who chose the name Francis from St. Francis, who gave up a life a luxury, left his comfortable surrounding and chose a life of poverty and simplicity to serve God. Pope Francis eschewed the fancy trappings of the Papacy and chose to live a life as simply as possible and to serve by example, sharing a message of universal love and peace, speaking truth to power, lifting up the poor, marginalized, forgotten, the migrant, refugee and imprisoned--saying that "we are all Children of God and called ostentatious displays an osteoporosis of the soul."
Pope Francis was a bold and unrelenting advocate for caring for God's Creation, and his ground-breaking Encyclical on caring for God's Creation, Laudato Si' has been read, studied and used by millions who are trying to address issues of Earth's environmental devastation and climate change.
In 2023, Pope Francis followed-up Laudate Si' with his Apostolic Exhortation "Laudate Deum", proclaiming once again the environmental/ climate crisis that is upon us. Links to both of these documents are below and are well worth taking the time to read in these critical times that call us to care for Earth and all that is in it.
Pope Francis said he wanted to die on the battlefield and. still recovering from pneumonia, he appeared to greet people at the Vatican on Maundy Thursday, greeting prisoners on Good Friday, making visits on Holy Saturday, and sharing a message and blessing on Easter Sunday. He lived as a resurrected person and, timely enough, died between Easter and Earth Day.
We remember and give thanks for an incredible life of faith, compassion, humility, and servanthood.
Grace and peace~
May 24, 2015 · “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.
