by Father Mark Goldasich
I liked him. I really liked him. I really, really liked him.
I’m talking about Pope Francis. When my Apple Watch buzzed early on Easter Monday morning, I couldn’t believe the notification. I thought that maybe I wasn’t reading things clearly without my glasses. But the news was true: The pope had died. I broke down and cried because I knew how much I’d miss him.
So many others have stated more eloquently his impact on the church and the world. You read some of those tributes in last week’s special issue of The Leaven.
I had to say something here, though, about how deeply he touched me. Most challenging were his observations about how we’ve become such a “consumerist” and “throwaway” culture. I stand guilty. I’ve spent much of my life thinking that my “wants” were actually “needs.” And that’s led to an overabundant lifestyle at the expense of the poor. (Oh, how easy to hit that “order” button online without a second thought.)
Thanks to Pope Francis, I’m starting to hear more clearly the cries of the poor — people we often treat as “throwaways.” Money selfishly spent on my wants is now being channeled much more often to those who genuinely have needs. His simple lifestyle, like choosing to live in the Vatican guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace, has inspired me to pare down my possessions.
His concern for the environment made me aware of how I waste resources like water, food, electricity and gas. I’m much more conscious now of conservation and recycling, to leave a better world for those who will come after me.
Whenever I’m tempted to complain about demands from people not on the parish roster or who rarely darken the church door, I hear Pope Francis’ voice calling me to generously head to the “peripheries” and serve all who are in need with kindness and mercy.
When I want to shake my fist and scream at all that’s wrong in the world, Pope Francis reminds me that I’m to be a pilgrim of hope and do all that I can to bring a sense of joy to folks walking about in despair and darkness.
These aren’t profound thoughts, but they’re heartfelt. All I can say is: Thank you, Pope Francis, for your wisdom and witness. You’ve made me a better man, a better Christian and a better priest.
So, what’s next for the church? This issue of The Leaven explores in detail the process of electing a new pope, known as a conclave. Although an exciting process, thank God it’s not a frequent one.
Back in the early summer of 1978, I’d just finished my first year of theology at the North American College in Rome. While I was studying for a couple of months in Staufen, Germany, Pope Paul VI died on Aug. 6. I was saddened by that but also bummed to miss out on a conclave since I still had another month of German study to go.
Not only did I miss out on the conclave that elected Pope John Paul I, I also missed his entire papacy! Sadly, after only 33 days, he died, and another conclave was convened.
Well, I didn’t miss this one. I was in St. Peter’s Square the evening of Oct. 16, 1978, when Pope John Paul II was elected and introduced. I’ll never forget the confusion as Italians around me were stunned that a Polish cardinal — “Yes, from Poland!” they kept saying — was elected pope, the first time a non-Italian would be the Successor of St. Peter in 455 years. (His redeeming feature, though, for those Italians was that “he’d studied in Rome” and came out on the balcony speaking in Italian.)
My, how things have changed since then. No one in the square that night had a “telefonino” (cellphone) or a tablet — since they weren’t yet invented. We only knew “the players” by consulting a hard copy of L’Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper of Vatican City State, that had photos and brief biographical information on each of the 111 cardinal-electors. There were also no huge video screens in the square, so you had to just squint to try and see the new pope.
Just as the world has changed technologically since then, so too has journalism. Everything happens now at a breakneck pace. Our special — unexpected — issue last week on Pope Francis was compiled in two days (Monday and Tuesday) so we could get it to the printer by our normal deadline. And the next few weeks will be at least as crazy.
We’re one of maybe two diocesan newspapers dealing not only with the installation of a new pope this month, but also with the installation of a new archbishop. So, the next few issues of the paper will look different. Please be patient with our staff . . . and send some prayers our way as well! You can keep up with things in the meantime by following us on social media. (See the sidebar.)
Shirley Chisholm, the first Black U.S. congresswoman, once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
Since no cardinal invited us to the conclave table, let us be your folding chair!
