Humour and humility: Pope Francis RIP
Jesuits of the Irish Province gathered together in sadness and in gratitude, to pray for Pope Francis, their fellow Jesuit, who died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
The Loyola, Milltown and Cherryfield Jesuit communities gathered at 5pm for prayers in the Cherryfield nursing home chapel. The Pope had stayed in the Milltown Community as a young Jesuit, coming to Ireland to learn English »
The Jesuits gathered were in solidarity with people from all over the world mourning the passing of the 88 year old pontiff who was elected Pope 12 years ago.
Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the Vatican’s announcement of his death this morning. Irish Jesuit theologian Jim Corkery SJ, based in Rome, told RTE radio news » ( 40 minutes in) that in the capital people had been spontaneously gathering in churches to pray and mark Francis’ passing.
Asked how his own Jesuit community reacted on hearing the news, he replied ” With sadness, because we lived enjoying the ministry of this Jesuit Pope with his surprises, and with his relentless pursuit of justice for the poor.”
Other Irish Jesuits were also on the airwaves commenting on Francis’ legacy, including Gerry O’Hanlon SJ (TV3), Donal Neary SJ, who recalled Pope Francis first stay in Milltown Park, on Newstalk and RTE Radio 1, and Gerry Whelan SJ, who was part of the commentary team in Rome for RTE Television’s coverage of the Pope’s funeral Mass.
Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, the leader of the global Order of Jesuits sent a letter to all its members. He spoke of how the Society of Jesus “shares in the sorrow of all the people of God, joined together in the Church, in union with many other people of good will, at the end of the earthly life of Pope Francis. It does so with deep feeling and with the serenity born of the firm hope in the resurrection through which the Lord Jesus opened for us the door to full participation in the life of God.”
He spoke of how the Jesuits were mourning not just the loss of a Pope but also of a fellow Jesuit. ” …we feel the departure of our dear brother in this mínima Compañía de Jesús, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. In the Society, we have shared the same spiritual charism and the same manner of following Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
He went on to outline the service Francis gave as leader of the worldwide Catholic community, “We are disquieted by his departure, and yet a deep sense of gratitude springs spontaneously from our hearts to God the Father, rich in mercy, for so much good received through the service of a whole lifetime and for the way in which Pope Francis knew how to guide the Church during his pontificate… Pope Francis kept a watchful eye on what was happening in the world to offer a word of hope to all. His extraordinary encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli tutti reveal not only a lucid analysis of the state of humanity, but, in the light of the Gospel, they also offer ways to eliminate the causes of so much injustice and to promote reconciliation.”
And Fr Sosa recalled some of the memorable moments of Francis’ papacy. “How could we forget the extraordinary moment of prayer he himself called for in the face of the coronavirus emergency in March 2020, in an empty St Peter’s Square? Or the constant concern for peace in the face of intolerance and wars that threaten international coexistence and generate untold suffering among the most defenceless. Or the empathy of his heart with the immense flow of forcibly displaced persons throughout the world, especially those compelled to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean.” Read the full letter here »
Other religious and political leaders across the globe also paid tribute to Pope Francis. At home, the All Ireland Primate Archbishop Eamonn Martin said the Pope “had a special place in his heart for the poor and those who were on the periphery.” And referencing Francis’ humility and his discomfort with pomp and glamour, the Archbishop added, “He tended to shun the traditional privileges and accoutrements of the papacy.”
Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland, met with Pope Francis five times, including when he visited Ireland back in 2018 » In a statement today he spoke of the Pope’s warmth and humility. And he pointed out how Francis “sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways, the extraordinary importance of the spiritual as a powerful source of global ethics in the challenges of contemporary life”.
He said the voice of the Pope constituted a “consistent invocation of a shared humanity” as he spoke out about the plight of the poor, and migrants, and raised issues of concern around climate change and justice. The President said he had the privilege of discussing such issues with the Pope over their five meetings.
“During his visit to Ireland, Pope Francis spoke of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families » On such matters, and on others such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role,” the President said, adding, “I recall at the end of our meetings he would say ‘it is very difficult’ to work on these issues, and he asked for and offered prayers. It is important that the steps he took are built upon as they constitute a source of hope in the years to come.”
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
