Rest Now, Holy Father: A Tribute to Pope Francis (1936–2025) by Br Peter Carroll
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Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. What follows is a reflection by Star of the Sea Provincial, Br Peter Carroll -honouring the life, witness, and gentle light of Pope Francis.
Today, we join millions of people in mourning the death of our Pope, Francis.
At 88, he had been bravely battling double pneumonia - a serious challenge given his long history of lung illness. After his hospitalisation in February, his return to health was uncertain.
And now, on this sacred day - just after Easter Sunday - the Holy Father has quietly entered into eternal rest.
We can confidently assert that Pope Francis has been a wonderful gift to the Church and the world over the last 12 years of his pontificate. In truth, for many who grew up in the immediate aftermath of Vatican II, his election brought fresh hope that the renewal that had commenced under Pope John XXIII would at last continue unimpeded by reactionary forces. They weren’t disappointed. While his actions haven’t fulfilled the dreams of all, they have consistently been in line with the teachings and vision of the Council. He had himself said that the post-Vatican II world was the milieu in which he has lived his priestly life.
"We can confidently assert that Pope Francis has been a wonderful gift to the Church and the world over the last 12 years of his pontificate."
Unfortunately, he faced criticism and opposition; mostly from within the Church, and from prelates who owed him greater loyalty than they offered. After all, Bishops swear, “I will submit to the free exercise of the primatial power of the Supreme Pontiff in the Universal Church, and I will take pains to advance and defend his rights and authority”.
Motivated by dated ecclesiology, pride, national politics or just the incapacity to accept change, they must have been a source of some personal disappointment and upset to the Pope. He largely ignored them and set his vision on the greater needs of the world and the Church.
"He has reformed the Curia, introduced new Dicasteries, involved women in leadership and attempted to bring transparency to the Vatican’s finances."
These are the priorities he has focused on over the last twelve years. The Church administration he inherited was, by any standard, aged and dysfunctional. He reformed the Curia, introduced new Dicasteries, involved women in leadership, and attempted to bring transparency to the Vatican’s finances. Undoubtedly there is more that needs to happen. One writer has commented that “his greatest impact has been on the culture of the Curia, rather than its structure. His constant emphasis on service and listening has changed how Curia officials interact with visiting bishops.” (Thomas J Reese)
While John Paul II and Benedict were intellectuals with an extraordinary depth of philosophical and theological insight, Francis had been first and foremost pastoral and simple in his approach.
"Pope Francis had been first and foremost pastoral and simple in his approach."
From the first images of him standing on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace in simple white robes, to his famous response “who am I to judge” when asked about gay orientation, and his seminal writings, he promoted the Church as a place of warmth, outreach and care. His apostolic letters, Encyclicals, homilies and speeches have all been accessible to ordinary people.
I believe more people have read Evangelii Gaudium, Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti than any other recent Encyclicals. He made ecological sustainability a priority for the Church and worked assiduously to promote care for our common home and care for the poor. As he famously wrote, the Church is like a ‘field hospital’ tending the wounded of the earth.
“Who am I to judge” - Pope Francis
His major recurring themes of dialogue, encounter, communion found expression in his promotion of a Synodal Church, and particularly in the years of discernment centred on the Synod on Synodality 2021-2024. In many ways this has been the culmination of the Pope’s ministry.
Pope Francis truly lived the Joy of the Gospel. In word and in action, he worked tirelessly to build a more united and compassionate Church - and a world that takes seriously Jesus’ call to act justly and love deeply.
He embodied joy. Who can forget some of the most incredible images of him: greeting children, embracing the ill and disabled, kissing the feet of prisoners, releasing doves into the sky! He not only wrote about The Joy of the Gospel but exuded it.
"He not only wrote about The Joy of the Gospel but exuded it."
He concluded his most recent Encyclical, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) on the human and divine love of Jesus, with these words:
"The present document can help us see that the teaching of the social Encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti is not unrelated to our encounter with the love of Jesus Christ. For it is by drinking of that same love that we become capable of forging bonds of fraternity, of recognizing the dignity of each human being, and of working together to care for our common home…The Church also needs that love, lest the love of Christ be replaced with outdated structures and concerns, excessive attachment to our own ideas and opinions, and fanaticism in any number of forms, which end up taking the place of the gratuitous love of God that liberates, enlivens, brings joy to the heart and builds communities. The wounded side of Christ continues to pour forth that stream, which is never exhausted, never passes away, but offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity”.
Undoubtedly it is the love of Christ which has enlivened, animated and directed Pope Francis throughout his pontificate.
There is significant symbolism in Francis suffering extreme bad health in past months, living through the Easter Triduum and then dying on Easter Monday. In all he did, Francis preached the Gospel of Life - he promoted life in all its forms. It’s as though his personal motto was John 10:10 - “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full”.
His final Orbi et Urbi address, read by an aide on Sunday, was rich with calls for peace, mercy and forgiveness. It was a final message; a call for a new beginning.
Let me conclude with the words of Rob Harris, an Australian writer: “Francis will be remembered for many things - a reformer, a Jesuit, a defender of the poor. But perhaps the most enduring image will be of a dying man who refused to retreat, who carried his message past the point of pain and into history. In his last Easter, Francis did not preach resurrection. He embodied it”.
Vale, Pope Francis.
By Br Peter Carroll, SoTS Provincial
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