- Midhun J Francis Kochukallanvila, SJ
Introduction: A Shepherd of the Margins
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who lived as a Jesuit and became pope with the Franciscan name, redefined the papacy. He has redefined the papacy not with papal supreme sovereignty but with the humility of Christ as the shepherd through a theology rooted in radical mercy, solidarity and an unyielding commitment to the marginalised. From his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he was declared as the Bishop of Rome in 2013, to his final Urbi et Orbi blessing in 2025, where he pleaded for peace in the world in, and all his papal words and actions echoed the Gospel’s call to “go to the peripheries.” This tribute explores his theological legacy through two pivotal moments of his papacy—his inaugural Easter blessing and his last public message. It reflects on the profound symbolism of his funeral, where the world witnessed the culmination of a life lived for the “least of these” as a true disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, a faithful son of Ignatius of Loyola and a seraphic follower of St. Francis of Assisi.
The First Urbi et Orbi: A Revolution of Tenderness (2013)
When Pope Francis stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on 13 March 2013, he broke tradition by asking the crowd to pray for him before imparting his blessing by bowing in front of the people. It was a gesture that foreshadowed his papacy’s ethos of humility and reciprocity. He bowed towards many, not with fear but with courage and humility, asking for peace for the world and pardon for the Church. In his first Easter Urbi et Orbi in 2013, he said, “Jesus is risen, there is hope for you, you are no longer in the power of sin, of evil! Love has triumphed, mercy has been victorious! The mercy of God always triumphs!” and all his words and actions set the tone of his papacy as the true disciple of a simple Jew from Nazareth. He chose the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s apostolic mission towards humanity in poverty and peace, signalling a Church that is “poor and for the poor.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who lived as a Jesuit and became pope with the Franciscan name, redefined the papacy. He has redefined the papacy not with papal supreme sovereignty but with the humility of Christ as the shepherd through a theology rooted in radical mercy, solidarity and an unyielding commitment to the marginalised.
Pope Francis’ theology of encounter with the other emerged not immediately but was part of his entire life as a normal Christian, as we learnt from his autobiography “Hope”. He met Catholics and non-Catholics, Christians and non-Christians, Believers and non-believers as Jesus expected his disciples to do. He believed the Church was a “field hospital” for the wounded. Therefore, the Papacy of Francis emphasised that what the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and warm the hearts of the faithful. This vision was palpable in his first public appearances, where he embraced refugees, visited prisons, washed the feet of inmates and said, “Who am I to judge”? It was an action that scandalised traditionalists but embodied Christ’s command to serve. His master was happy to see his Vicar and servant doing well.
The Final Urbi et Orbi: A Testament of Hope (Easter 2025)
Twelve years later, on 20 April 2025, a frail Pope Francis delivered his final Urbi et Orbi message from a wheelchair. He could hardly pronounce the words. I see a true son of Ignatius of Loyola as a Jesuit who prays every day as “Dear Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.” The Pope’s voice was carried by Archbishop Diego Ravelli. Amid global conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar, he implored leaders to reject the “logic of fear” and instead “build the future with weapons of peace: solidarity, disarmament, and care for the starving.” He was not worrying about his health but about the health of the universe, an honest steward of the creation of the Father. His words were a distillation of his life’s work:
Peace Over Power: Pope Francis condemned wars as “a defeat for humanity.” He urged ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine while decrying the “thirst for death” in global conflicts, as we see Francis of Assisi at the court of the sultan, hugging each other.
Defence of the Vulnerable: He highlighted the plight of migrants, the unborn, and the elderly and insisted that “every life is precious,” as the Jesuit saint Peter Claver called himself “slave of the slaves,” which the pope also quoted, taking the example of this Latin American Missionary saint.
Hope as Resistance: Framing Easter as a victory of love over despair; he declared, “Hope does not delude but empowers us.” As a true Jesuit, Ignatius hoped for new life in Christ as the canon ball hit at the battle of Pamplona.
Pope Francis’ papacy was a lived parable of the Good Samaritan. In his first and final Urbi et Orbi blessings and the simplicity of his funeral, he mirrored Christ’s command to “go out into the highways and hedges” (Lk 14:23). His theology was not of words alone but of presence—among prisoners, refugees, and the dying. Cardinal Re concluded that Francis “held high the torch of hope” in a fractured world. His legacy challenges us to ask: Will we build walls or bridges? Cling to power or embrace the poor? In a final message from his 2025 Easter homily, he left an answer: “Let us entrust ourselves to Him, for He alone can make all things new.”
Even in physical decline, his message radiated urgency. The resurrection, he argued, was not an abstraction but a “living force” demanding action—a call to “break down barriers” of indifference as Jesus asked the disciples to go back to Galilee.
The Funeral: A Mirror to His Legacy
Pope Francis’ funeral on 26 April 2025 became a global liturgy of solidarity. Over 400,000 people from all religions, including non-believers, filled St. Peter’s Square and the streets of Rome. At the same time, world leaders—including U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky—sat beside homeless migrants and transgender women invited per Francis’ wishes. All were seated under the sun for the long funeral ceremony. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re’s homily encapsulated his legacy:
“Build Bridges, Not Walls”: Cardinal Re highlighted Francis’s relentless advocacy for refugees and his critique of nationalism, echoing his 2016 rebuke of Trump’s border policies when Trump himself was present at the funeral.
A Church of the Poor: The coffin, a simple zinc-lined wooden casket, processed past Rome’s landmarks to Santa Maria Maggiore, where the poor welcomed him one last time—a “privileged place” he reserved for them in death as in life.
Mercy as Mission: Re recalled the Jubilee of Mercy (2016), encyclicals like Fratelli Tutti, and his visits to war zones and slums, framing them as acts of “sacramental solidarity”.
The burial at Santa Maria Maggiore, a basilica dedicated to Mary and beloved by Francis as Ignatius of Loyola celebrated his First mass, symbolised his Marian devotion and rejection of papal grandeur. Sister Evelyn noted, “His real work was among the people.”
Theological Legacy: Mercy, Encounter and the Peripheries
Francis’ theology transcended doctrine. It merges mysticism with social justice:
Mercy as the Heart of the Gospel: His declaration of the 2016 Jubilee of Mercy institutionalised forgiveness, expanding confession access and prioritising pastoral care over legalism.
Ecological Conversion: In Laudato Si’, he redefined environmental stewardship as a moral duty, linking climate justice to poverty.
Culture of Encounter: From Lampedusa to Lesbos, he modelled “smelling like the sheep,” insisting that leaders “see faces, not statistics.”
Synodality and Reform: He decentralised Vatican authority, empowering lay voices and women while facing conservative backlash.
His critics accused him of diluting doctrine, yet his vision remained anchored in Jesus’ example: “Who am I to judge?” became a mantra for inclusion, even as he upheld traditional teachings.
Conclusion: “The Night Has Been Overcome”
Pope Francis’ papacy was a lived parable of the Good Samaritan. In his first and final Urbi et Orbi blessings and the simplicity of his funeral, he mirrored Christ’s command to “go out into the highways and hedges” (Lk 14:23). His theology was not of words alone but of presence—among prisoners, refugees, and the dying. Cardinal Re concluded that Francis “held high the torch of hope” in a fractured world. His legacy challenges us to ask: Will we build walls or bridges? Cling to power or embrace the poor? In a final message from his 2025 Easter homily, he left an answer: “Let us entrust ourselves to Him, for He alone can make all things new.”
