“The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, God’s boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: Everything is a caress of God” (Laudato Si’, 84). Pope Francis
Dear Friends,
In March of 2013 Mario Jose Bergoglio was elected supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church. When asked, “What will you be called” His answer was, “Francis”. The poor man of Assisi- poet, preacher, beggar and mystic.
As we all know- Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday. Such a fitting day to lose his mortal coil. Not wanting to upstage the events on Easter Sunday.
Much being written about him- about his humility, his concerns about global economic systems exploiting the poor and refugees being displaced by war and climate change.
Most outlets miss so much of the man or attempt to make him a figure that fits a pre-existing narrative. Progressives believe he did not go far enough- Conservatives were outraged that he went too far.
I found myself profoundly moved by his passing.
Three pieces today:
The Letter- a film about climate change and its impact. Francis reached out to those most impacted by climate and who call us to respond. Now.
The Daily- a podcast on the impact Francis had on the Church and the World. Apple has not published the link- but try and find it.
A Papal Encyclical. Well, my own version of a Papal Encyclical. When Francis was elected I took up my quill and parchment and penned my own letter to the faithful. A letter that I wanted Francis to write. Forgive me my arrogance, but I find so much of the public dialogue being about changing the rules when he was asking us to please change our hearts. Everything and Nothing.
May perpetual light shine upon him.
Pax et Bonum-
Bill
The Letter: A message for our Earth.
The Letter tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders to discuss the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope, included in the film, offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome.
https://theletterfilm.org/
How Pope Francis Changed the Catholic Church
The Daily
Church bells rang out across the world on Monday to mark the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. Jason Horowitz, the Rome bureau chief at The New York Times, discusses the pope’s push to change the church, his bitter clashes with traditionalists, and what his papacy meant to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Listen on Apple Podcasts:
Francis’s First Encyclical – (as written by Bill Coy)
ENCYCLICAL LETTER
Omnia et Nihil
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
Francis
TO THE BISHOPS
PRIESTS AND DEACONS
MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS
THE LAY FAITHFUL
AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL
ON OUR FUTURE AS CHURCH
We are most gratified by the well wishes given so freely by the people of God.
Much has been asked in the popular press about the future of the Church and what changes our pontificate might herald for the future of the Church.
As we embark on this journey together, we feel compelled by the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to impart our vision.
What will change? Omnia et Nihil- Everything and Nothing.
Our values as Church are given as a gift from God. These do not change. Love, compassion, self-sacrifice, justice, charity, obedience, the call to service, the call to union with God, these do not change.
What must change is this:
The Church must heed the call to conversion. We must look deeply at ourselves and our own sinfulness, our incompleteness and our hubris. We have in our arrogance as an institution refused to look at the many ways we have fallen short of our divine mandate and the grace bestowed upon us. We have assumed that because God is good, that we are good, which has allowed us to think of ourselves as pure in all motives and actions. When we are blind to our own wrongdoing we have lost our way. Nothing separates ourselves from the Lord as self-assured sanctity. We count ourselves as the first among sinners and beg for the forgiveness only the Lord can give. We also must stand as humble penitents before those who we have harmed and ask their forgiveness. We have so many times fallen short of the ideals and mandate given to us by the Lord Jesus.
We are a pilgrim people. This journey, this call, this cross we have taken up must start with ourselves.
The teaching authority given by God will no longer be directed towards the actions of others, but first inwardly towards Holy Mother Church. We will continue to preach the uncompromising values of life, and act according to the needs of our families and those struggling to make the choices that God is calling us all to make. We will continue to support the sanctity of marriage and hold the ideal of its permanence but not cut off our brothers and sisters who have struggled through the pain of dissolution of marriage. We have defined love too narrowly, and condemned those who love beyond our own comfort.
Who are we to judge?
The Lord Jesus gave us the sacraments and we will continue to celebrate them as a sign of what God has done and continues to do in our lives, not as a reward to be withheld from some and given to only those we deem worthy. Grace can only be given by God.
Like Jesus we will sup with sinners. As we are all sinners, the table will be open to all.
Like Jesus we will not cast anyone out who wishes to follow the Lord and seek forgiveness.
Like Jesus we will cast no stone until we are without sin.
Our namesake Francis implored his brothers, “Preach the Gospel always, when necessary, use words”.
We believe in the truth of Jesus Christ.
We believe that the truth will set us free.
Walk with me in this truth, let us as brothers and sisters hold and help each other in our journey.
Your humble servant and brother,
Francis
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