A Shepherd’s Goodbye: Remembering Pope Francis

On this Easter Monday — a day when the Church typically rests in the quiet glow of the Resurrection — we find ourselves sitting with sorrow. The death of Pope Francis on this sacred day feels especially poignant, touching hearts around the world with a grief that is both personal and collective. As we celebrate Christ’s triumph over death, we also reflect on the life and legacy of a man who spent his papacy reminding us of that very victory, again and again.

Pope Francis was more than a pontiff — he was a shepherd who walked among his sheep. From the moment he stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and asked the world to pray for him, his humility was evident. He chose simplicity over status, mercy over judgment, presence over protocol. He led not with the trappings of power, but with the quiet authority of a servant, modeling the love of Christ in both word and action.

His papacy was a radical call back to the heart of the Gospel: love the poor, defend the vulnerable, and accompany the brokenhearted. He reminded us that the Church is not a fortress to be guarded, but a field hospital meant to heal. He called for ecological stewardship, interreligious dialogue, and deeper solidarity with those who live on the margins of society. Whether through washing the feet of prisoners, embracing a child with disabilities, or offering spontaneous encouragement to the weary, Pope Francis made visible the tenderness of God.

For many Catholics — and even those outside the Church — he was a bridge, a voice of compassion in an often divided world. He challenged us, too — asking us to examine our comfort zones, our complacency, and our understanding of what it means to be truly faithful. His leadership reminded us that orthodoxy and mercy are not opposites, but two sides of the same coin of discipleship.

To mourn him now, in the light of Easter, is a sacred paradox. We are reminded that even as the Church loses its earthly shepherd, the Good Shepherd never abandons His flock. We trust that Pope Francis, who spent his final years bearing the weight of the Church with courage and grace, now rests in the embrace of the Risen Christ he so fervently loved and followed.

Requiescat in pace, Holy Father. May your legacy continue to inspire us to be people of mercy, justice, and joy. And may our next pope, following your footsteps, be a humble servant of the poor and marginalized, a guardian of truth, a beacon of hope, and an example of love.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.