Farewell Pope Francis

Neil Urquhart April 21, 2025 3 4

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This blog was written by Neil Urquhart originally published on Fullerton Conexions. 

Rest in Peace & Rise in Glory Pope Francis!

There is a certain sacred symmetry to Pope Francis’s death from double pneumonia on Easter Monday. His last official act as head of the Roman Catholic Church, on Easter Sunday on the balcony of St Peter’s Square, was to wave to thousands of worshippers after weeks in hospital with double pneumonia. After celebrating with millions in the Easter Message that Jesus Christ has conquered death and shown us a way to live and die well without the fear of dying, assured of a warm welcome beyond the grave.

If you haven’t watched ‘The Two Popes’ movie I thoroughly recommend it (Netflix) for gaining some insight into our two most recent Popes who have been so instrumental in renewing and paving the way for further renewal in and through the RC Church. Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. Anthony Hopkins & Jonathan Pryce play blinders in bringing to life the drama & humility involved in two very different people submitting to God’s higher power & bigger purpose, which led to one Pope retiring to make way for another to kneel down & serve (rather than step up & rule).

Pope Francis has shown us a very human face of the papacy. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, eldest of five children, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 1936. His parents had escaped as refugees from Italy & fascism. He Tango danced, supported his local football team, San Lorenzo, & survived a serious bout of pneumonia in younger years, which left him susceptible to infection throughout his life. He recognised

lingering pain in his right knee as another part of his “physical humiliation”, which encouraged him to trust more in the strength of God.

From the moment of his election Pope Francis would do things differently. On 13 March 2013, he emerged in simple white, having adopted St Francis of Assisi’s name, the 13^th Century saint & animal lover, who have us the prayer, “Make me a channel of Your Peace.” He preferred humility to pomp & ceremony. He chose to ride home on the bus with his cardinals rather than glide in the papal. He set his course on a moral mission, “Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor,”. He was a leader of faith, empathy & compassion, a friend of the oppressed. Apparently, every day he called his priest in Gaza City.

We grieve the loss of a deeply spiritual, strong & humble leader, & pray comfort for the 1.2 billion strong flock of Roman Catholics, who wake this morning to such shocking news. But we also rise to hear Easter’s eternal echo, The overarching Story of our risen Saviour, & words of the angels at Jesus’ empty tomb, “Don’t look for the living in the place of the dead!”

As we journey on, our Church of Scotland Moderator Rt Rev Dr Shaw Peterson helpfully reminds us of Pope Francis’s prayer,

“Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel, discovering Christ in each human being,

recognising him crucified in the sufferings of the abandoned and forgotten of our world,

and risen in each brother or sister who makes a new start.” Yes, Lord make us channels of Your Peace, we pray,

Amen.