(OSV News) — Here are excerpts of statements from several bishops in the U.S. about the April 21 death of Pope Francis, his 12-year pontificate and his legacy of reaching out to those on the “peripheries,” promoting peace and calling the world to respect the sanctity and dignity of all human life.
— Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles:
In this time of mourning, my prayer is that all of us in the Church will honor Pope Francis’ legacy by remembering that he called us to urgent tasks that are still not finished:
We must continue our work of serving the poor, the migrant, and all who are forgotten on society’s “peripheries.” We must persevere in caring for our common home, which is the earth, and in building a world that respects the sanctity and dignity of all human life and the Creator’s desire that we live in peace and fraternity as one human family. And we must evangelize, spreading the joy of the Gospel as missionary disciples, accompanying our brothers and sisters and helping them to find in Jesus the happiness and love that every human heart longs for.
Above all, we must deepen our own love for Jesus and our commitment to seeking his holiness and reflecting his mercy and love in our daily lives.
Pope Francis showed us, by his constant example, that we should have a great devotion to the Virgin Mary, who is our Blessed Mother and the Mother of the Church.
Example of humility
— Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver:
(Auxiliary) Bishop Jorge Rodriguez and I are grateful to God for Pope Francis’ powerful example of humility, prayer and service to the Church for the past twelve years. From the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015 to his prayer in St. Peter’s Square during COVID to this ordinary Jubilee of Hope this year, from his weekly Angelus messages to his encyclicals and writings, he continually called us to encounter Jesus Christ, to accompany others as Christ did with mercy and tenderness, and to draw near to the Father’s heart in this apostolic age.
His special emphasis on seeking out the lost and marginalized has encouraged many to encounter Jesus, who is our Savior, the Way, the Truth and the Life. As we mourn his passing, may we remember his call to preach the Gospel courageously, joyfully and full of hope.”
— Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle
From the first days of his pontificate, it was clear we would experience something extraordinarily fresh and new from (Pope) Francis, as he rode the bus with the other cardinals after his election and personally paid the bill at the hotel where he stayed prior to the conclave. Then he chose to forgo the papal apartment and instead maintain a room at the Casa Santa Marta as his residence.
The world will never forget the stark image of Pope Francis alone in St. Peter’s Square as he prayed for an end to the COVID pandemic and gave his blessing to the world. Nor will we soon forget his devotion to people on the margins and his insistence that all the rest of us do better in caring for them. He was a dogged defender of the basic human dignity of those in most need, from migrants to the homeless and those in prison. He embodied the corporal works of mercy as he gave both witness to and teaching of the loving mercy of God.
Just last week I was thinking that Pope Francis has not so much “changed” Church teaching as he expanded our hearts and imaginations in how to live the Gospel. … His encyclicals gave a new vision for the Church to always be going out in service to others, to move beyond a self-preservation to a Church constantly on mission. He called us to dialogue with and accompany one another, to live in better harmony with God, each other and all of God’s creation.
Reaching out to the marginalized
— Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon
Pope Francis’ ministry was marked by his pastoral heart and his call for all of us to reach out to the poor, the marginalized, and the vulnerable. He inspired us to embrace mercy, to walk in humility, and to live as true disciples of Jesus Christ.
As a pastor of souls, Pope Francis shepherded us through times of joy and sorrow, guiding us with wisdom, gentleness, and a deep love for the people of God. His teachings were a beacon of hope, calling us to renew our commitment to the Lord, to care for our common home, and to live with the joy of the Gospel in every corner of the world.
As we grieve his passing, we give thanks to God for the gift of Pope Francis’ life and ministry. May his example continue to inspire us to live with courage, faith, and love as we carry forward the work he began. … May the Holy Spirit guide the Church as we prepare to honor Pope Francis’ legacy and continue his mission to spread the light of Christ to all corners of the earth.
— Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans
While we are sad as we will miss him in this world, as an 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.
Pope Francis was a true man of God who called and challenged all of us to witness our faith in all aspects of our daily life. His ministry stretched beyond the normal boundaries into the peripheries of those who have felt marginalized by our society.
He said God’s name is mercy and witnessed for us how to live with love and mercy.
He will always be remembered for his love, compassion, humility, and care for all of God’s creation.
— Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Pope Francis was a shepherd to us all, guiding the Church with a gentle spirit and a fierce commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being. His emphasis on mercy and inclusivity transformed countless lives and inspired a renewed sense of hope within the global community. Through his actions and words, he reminded us of the importance of caring for the marginalized and standing up for the voiceless.
As we grieve the loss of our Holy Father, let us also celebrate his remarkable life and extraordinary contributions. His legacy will continue to illuminate our path as we strive to embody the values he championed. In this time of mourning, I urge all the faithful to come together in prayer, reflecting on the profound impact Pope Francis has had on our lives and the Church.
May we honor his memory by committing ourselves to the mission he so passionately lived out: to proclaim the Gospel, to spread love, foster peace, and serve those in need. Let us pray for the repose of his soul and seek comfort in our shared faith.
Powerful Easter message
— Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis
It is with profound sadness that I learned this morning of the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Along with Catholics and men and women of good will throughout the world, I gave thanks to Almighty God for his life and example, and I pray with Easter hope for the repose of his soul.
How providential that our loving God would call Pope Francis home just as we begin our 50 days of celebrating Christ’s victory over sin and death. I trust that he felt the comforting prayers of the world as he joined the crowd in St. Peter’s Square yesterday for the Church’s celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. The Holy Father’s powerful Easter greeting, expressing his closeness to those experiencing the scourge of war and abandonment will be long remembered as his testament.
— Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana
For the past 12 years, Pope Francis has been a shining example for the Church and the world of the joy and hope of the Gospel. He has been a tireless voice for the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten, calling all of us to be witnesses of Christ our hope through our love for all those who are in need. He has repeatedly taught us by his words and actions that the preferential option for the poor is at the center of the Gospel and of the Church’s mission. I think this will be Pope Francis’ most enduring legacy.
The last time I spoke with the Holy Father was this past October, at the end of the Synod in Rome, when I thanked him for his latest encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was his fourth and last encyclical, a beautiful reflection on the love of Christ, the love that conquers sin and death. He taught how the Church and the world need that love. … In his Easter message, Pope Francis wrote that all who put their hope in God are to be witnesses of the victory of love. Death is the moment of great encounter with the God of love.
— Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton, New Jersey:
Pope Francis’ legacy is one of boundless grace, simplicity, humility and hope. He demonstrated a gentle spirit, offering solace and guidance to those in need. His words and actions were a testament to the power of faith and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
As we commend his soul to God, may we find solace in the promise of the Resurrection of the Lord which we celebrated yesterday. Despite his illness and suffering, Pope Francis continued to make his presence known, seen and felt. We believe that Pope Francis, having faithfully served our Lord, now rests in the loving embrace of the Father. Let us carry forward his legacy of love, mercy, and service. May we honor his memory by living out the Gospel with renewed fervor, always seeking to be instruments of God’s peace and reconciliation in our world.
A pastor with heart
— Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota
Pope Francis was a great pastor who spoke from the heart and with tender affection. I had the pleasure of meeting with Pope Francis several times during his papacy. On the occasions when he and I spoke, his comments would burn their way into my heart and mind. During a meeting with my fellow bishops, he reminded us that “the first task of a bishop is to pray.”
Pope Francis’ papacy was marked by two master themes: mercy and evangelization. In an interview, he famously remarked that the Church is a field hospital to those wounded by our postmodern, relativistic society. It must, first and foremost, heal the wounds. Pope Francis had a keen awareness of the destructiveness of sin, and he encouraged the Church to show the world the merciful face of Christ. He also emphasized the importance of our personal witness to the light of faith, drawing others to the life-giving joy of the Gospel.
As we celebrate Pope Francis’ life and legacy, please join me in praying for the repose of his soul.
— Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson, New Jersey
The Holy Father’s living example of faith, hope, and love was nourished by a servant’s heart that impelled him to make of his life a gift to the Lord Jesus through God’s grace. We have all benefited from his goodness.
The example of Pope Francis will be ever vital because his way of life was rooted in the heart of our Good Shepherd. Pope Francis, in imitation of the Good Shepherd, impressed singular importance upon embracing the broken, the despairing, and the hopeless. Rooted in joyful hope, the Holy Father taught us that as the Body of Christ, our vision must always be turned outward as ambassadors of Christ. … Pope Francis taught us to be courageous in faith and confident that in our weakness we retain the gift of being children of God and brothers and sisters to one another.
In his call for a Jubilee Year, Pope Francis spoke a prayer, “Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross.”
— Bishop Scott E. Bullock of Rapid City, South Dakota
With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. He was a shepherd after Christ’s own heart — humble, compassionate, and deeply committed to walking with the people of God, especially those on the margins, those without privilege and favor in this world.
Pope Francis reminded us constantly of God’s mercy, calling the Church to be a field hospital for the wounded and a home for all. His pastoral heart, gentle leadership, and unwavering call to serve the poor and to care for God’s gift of creation will be remembered with deep gratitude.
We entrust his soul to the loving mercy of the God he served so faithfully, and we pray for the Church for which, we trust, he continues to intercede, now from a “higher” vantage point.
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