The following is Bishop Barbarito’s homily from the April 23 memorial Mass for Pope Francis.
The Pope of Surprises
From the very beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis frequently spoke of God as the “God of surprises.” In fact, on Easter Sunday a few years ago, he referred to God’s intervention in history, which culminated in the Resurrection of Christ, as all acts of the “God of surprises.” On another occasion, he posed the question in one of his Wednesday audiences, “Is our faith open to surprises from God? Because God is the God of surprises!” Pope Francis made it abundantly clear that many times we judge God in terms of what we expect, and are surprised when he acts in a different way outside of our boundaries.
In this context, it is not so surprising that Francis showed himself to be a “Pope of surprises.” He made this obvious on many occasions in which he said and did things which surprised many people. He also did so in a matter in which he showed that he enjoyed giving surprise, as surprise usually brings joy with it. Such actions as marrying a couple unexpectedly on a plane, his birthday celebration with children and pizza, and stopping by unexpectedly at a record store in Rome to visit a family he knew from Argentina, are just small examples of the surprises which Pope Francis enjoyed the most. He recently gave surprises, after he returned from the hospital for a very serious illness, on visits that he made around Rome during the past few weeks. Even though he was instructed by his physicians to convalesce for two months, he made surprise visits to St. Peter’s Basilica; a surprise visit to St. Mary Major Basilica, which he visited often and where he will be buried; made a visit, in accord with his usual custom, to a prison on Holy Thursday; as well as an appearance on Easter Sunday, where he was present to bless and hear his own Urbi et Orbi message delivered by a colleague. His final message was a powerful one and one that the world needed to hear very much.
In view of all of this, his own passing came as a surprise, since he seemed to be making slow progress in his recovery. However, the “God of surprises” called him home shortly after the celebration of Easter, early Monday morning. This made his passing from this world much in keeping with the theme of this Jubilee Year of Hope under the title of “Hope Does Not Disappoint.” Many times during the Year of Hope, Pope Francis exhorted that hope is not always without trial and suffering, but it is always with the certainly of obtaining what we are destined for, which is eternal life through the Resurrection of Christ. Certainly on Easter Sunday, that hope was fulfilled for Pope Francis in a manner that gave the world a lesson on what the true meaning of life and death are all about.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises that Pope Francis gave to all of us in the Church is that his message came from who he was as the Vicar of Christ on earth, but in the manner in which God gave him a particular character and personality that he accepted. Even the wonderful stories which are appearing in the press at the present moment about this beloved man are expressing that Pope Francis was not the progressive liberal that he is imagined to be but the sincere person God made him to be. He was a down-to-earth man who took his faith seriously and lived it to the fullest in the hope of eternal life. Francis, for all the unfounded expectations, did not change Church doctrine in any way, nor did he even change many longstanding traditions of the Church, which some hoped that he might. He was a man who was close to the people and reached out to the periphery of the world, especially to the poorest of the poor, in order to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. He was also a deeply intellectual man with a grasp of philosophy, theology and literature that might be surprising to some. His writings were deep in the mystery of God and His nature, which enabled him to describe God as the “God of surprises” and is very much in keeping with who God is. He was a simple man, with dignity, and a true diplomat, not a politician, in the best sense of Church leadership. He was a man who appreciated a sense of humor, much in keeping with the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who said that God created the world through a true sense of humor.
There is so much to reflect upon in terms of his example, teaching and exhortations. His Wednesday audiences in Rome followed a progression of insightful catechesis on certain areas of spiritual life and were easy to comprehend. He was a true shepherd who understood his primary role as to be in communication with God, and made prayer the center of his ministry. He did that in a manner in which he could easily communicate with others. He understood that spirituality was lived in everyday life and not only in a monastery. He taught like the Jesuit that he was, always making three powerful points. He did this in practical matters as well, such as teaching that the three most important phrases in life are “please, thank you and sorry,” as well as “start, stop and continue,” which is a basis of business practice.
Pope Francis was a man who accepted himself, with all of the surprises as God made him, to the very end. In his final visit to the prison on Holy Thursday, he spoke words to reporters he has spoken on other occasions, “I often ask the question why them and not me.” In an early interview, when asked the question of who was he, Pope Francis responded in all sincerity, “I am a sinner.” Surprising, honest words, which struck to the heart of everyone, not only in feeling comfortable with him, but also in realizing this is true for all of us.
It has been said that a holy person is one whose presence another can feel comfortable to be him or herself. There is no need to put on a mask or to pretend to be something other than what one is. In fact, a holy person makes another person appreciate better who he or she is. That does not mean that the person is approving of their shortcomings or sins but only the more willing to admit them, even to themselves. There is a natural bond of unity between the two persons, which is their common human nature made in the image and likeness of God. Certainly, Pope Francis has made people around the world feel comfortable with themselves as unique persons, not only for the people who met him personally, but for all of us who saw and heard him from afar. He was a true holy father.
Soon the Church will be entering into a time of electing a new pope in the conclave that will follow the period of mourning for Pope Francis. Again, the press and media, understandably are filled with stories about who the candidates might be and what the expectations of the new pope should be. We have been blessed with extraordinary popes in the past years. They have all been of the same caliber and character of Pope Francis, but all with personalities and qualities as God made them, which they used for the good of the Church. Pope Francis himself has canonized a number of recent popes — St. John Paul II, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI and has opened the process for Pope John Paul I. Pope Benedict was an extraordinary man of the Church, who was a model in many ways for Pope Francis. What the Church is looking for in the pope are the qualities of Pope Francis, which are all qualities of these previous men. The Church will continue, as Christ promised us, to endure until the end of time. It will continue to have the smell of the sheep and to be a field hospital as long as the Vicar of Christ lives in the manner of these other popes and Pope Francis. It does not matter what color shoes a pope wears — what matters is how and where he goes with them. As the new Vicar of Christ is chosen, let us be open to God’s choice, knowing He can surprise us, but hopefully not too much.
One of the many qualities of Pope Francis’ spiritual life was his obvious devotion to the Blessed Mother. He chose to be buried at her basilica in Rome because of that devotion. May he now find great joy in being in her presence among the saints. He liked to say that when thieves reach the doors of heaven, they should go to the side window where Mary stands. St. Peter may not let them in, but Mary will. Pope Francis will go straight through the front door, but will want to go to the window as well. May Pope Francis now fully understand the fullness of the “God of surprises” in heaven, where the love of God is fully revealed and goes beyond any surprise we all can expect!
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
