My Dear Friends,

Today we remember Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, April 21st. He is among one of the oldest popes in history, and he reigned as pope for 13 years.

When I was born in 1969, Pope St. Paul VI was the current pope of the Catholic Church. When he died in 1978, it did not occur to me that it was a big deal (being that I was only 9 years old). Blessed Pope John Paul I was elected, but he lived only thirty days as pope before he died.

Soon after, a cardinal from Poland was elected as pope and he chose the name John Paul II. His election was the first of a non-Italian cardinal since the 1520’s. Pope St. John Paul II was one of the longest-serving popes in history, reigning for 27 years.

Upon his death, Pope Benedict XVI was elected. Pope Benedict was the first pope since the 1200’s to resign the papacy, which led to the election of Francis. Pope St. John XXIII was the pope that called the Second Vatican Council and opened it in 1962.

After having only a few saintly popes for the last one thousand years, within the last sixty years we now have three more popes who are saints and one who is a blessed (one step away from sainthood).

Due to the spirit of the age, the last three popes have been practically canonized upon their deaths. I say this not because John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis are not holy men, but because the media (Catholic and secular) have a way of focusing on their attributes.

I do remember John Paul’s (2005) and Benedict’s (2022) deaths, and how our Catholic media reported them. I do have to say, though, that the secular media never understood or appreciated John Paul and Benedict.

Francis was perceived by the secular media as the pope who shared their progressive politics. Pope St. John Paul II was pope during my seminary years. Pope Benedict was pope for my diaconate year and first six years of my priesthood. Francis has been pope for my last thirteen years of priesthood.

They all had their personal strengths and weaknesses. They were all flawed men who did their best to preside over the Catholic Church. And all three loved the Blessed Mother.

I do pray that our Blessed Mother was with Pope Francis as his advocate to her Son. And I pray that the cardinal electors will, through wisdom and prayer, elect a worthy successor of St. Peter to be our next pope.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

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