Upon the Death of Pope Francis

Francis, 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church

The following biographical information, with a few edits, comes from an article posted on Wikipedia,

Francis was the first Jesuit pope. He was also the first pope from the Americas and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.

As pope, Francis' manner was less formal than that of his immediate predecessors, a style that news coverage referred to as "no frills," noting that it was "his common touch and accessibility that is proving the greatest inspiration". On his election night, he took a bus back to his hotel with the cardinals rather than being driven in the papal car. 

In addition to his native Spanish, he spoke fluent Italian (the official language of Vatican City and the "everyday language" of the Holy See) and German. He was also conversant in Latin (the official language of the Holy See), French,  Portuguese, and English; he also understood Piedmontese and some Genoese Ligurian.

Francis chose not to live in the official papal residence in the Apostolic Palace but instead remained in the Vatican guest house in a suite where he received visitors and held meetings. He was the first pope since Pope Pius X to live outside the papal apartments. Francis appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace for the Sunday Angelus, a Catholic devotion focused on the incarnation of Christ.. The devotion is traditionally recited in Roman Catholic churches, convents, monasteries, and by the faithful three times a day: in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.

As a Jesuit pope, Francis made clear that a fundamental task of the faithful is not so much to follow rules but to discern what God is calling them to do. He altered the culture of the clergy, steering away from what he named "clericalism" (which dwells on priestly status and authority) and toward an ethic of service (Francis says the church's shepherds must have the "smell of the sheep", always staying close to the People of God).

Francis told journalists that he had chosen the name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi and had done so because he was especially concerned for the well-being of the poor. He explained that, as it was becoming clear during the conclave voting that he would be elected, the Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes had embraced him and whispered, "Don't forget the poor," which made Bergoglio think of the saint. Bergoglio had previously expressed his admiration for St. Francis, explaining that: "He brought to Christianity an idea of poverty against the luxury, pride, and vanity of the civil and ecclesiastical powers of the time. He changed history." (This background on Pope Francis consists of excerpts taken from a Wikipedia article entitled, “Pope Francis,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis)

Requiescat in pace Papa Franciscus, et lux perpetua luceat ei—May Pope Francis rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him.

My Thoughts on Pope Francis’ Death

Although we North American Lutherans are considered “separated brethren” by the Roman Catholic Church through the Reformation of 1517, we still hold much in common with this worldwide Christian communion. We both consider the Bible the divinely inspired, inerrant word of God (although both churches interpret the Bible differently in several crucial areas); both the NALC and the Roman Catholic Church have a high view of the Sacraments; we share the same beliefs on the Sanctity of Life and Sanctity of Marriage; we also share the belief that Natural Law (God’s divine design as reflected in nature) is to be respected. Our NALC bishops have participated in several ecumenical talks with U.S. Catholic Bishops and theologians.

Since 1517, Lutheran views on the Pope have diverged greatly from those of the Catholic Church. While we do not believe one must submit to the Pope as the only earthly head of Christianity, we should respect him as the leader of the largest Christian church in the world. Dr. Martin Luther held some very negative and strong beliefs about the Papacy in his day, which he was very entitled to, given the circumstances. Today, I think he would moderate his views toward the pope and the Catholic Church, given some of the advances we have made through ecumenical dialogue and mutual biblical studies.

This is a time of grief, sorrow, and uncertainty for our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church as they mourn the loss of Francis, and as the College of Cardinals will soon begin to gather in Rome to choose the next pope. Paul the Apostle charges us in Romans 12:15 to “ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Let’s certainly do this, and let’s pray for the Roman Catholic Church, and all our Roman Catholic neighbors and friends at this crucial time. Let us also pray that God will lead the College of Cardinals to choose a loving, biblically-grounded, Gospel-loving, evangelically-minded man as their next “Papa.”

Pastor Kurt