Into the Deep

   On Monday, April 21, Easter Monday, we awoke to the news of the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Although we were all aware of the seriousness of his health, the fact that he had appeared the day before, on Easter Sunday, to give the Urbi et Orbi blessing (to the City and to the Orb) and to be driven through St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile to greet the pilgrims of Rome, makes this event a bit of a surprise for us. We pray for his eternal rest, and we pray for the Church at this moment when the Cardinals, assisted by the Holy Spirit, will gather to elect a new Successor of St. Peter.

   Peter, who is Peter? Beyond the historical figure of the fisherman from Galilee whom the Lord called to be a “fisher of men” (Lk 5:10) 2,000 years ago, Peter is the Rock on which the Church is built (Mt 16:18). This assignment, which changed and shaped the life of the man who until then had been known as “Simon son of Jonah”, took place after his confession “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16). Confession that moved the Lord utter the following blessing: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” (v. 17). Who is Peter? He is the man who two millennia ago and in every age now in his successors unites the Church and announces to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord, God Himself. His words echo from generation to generation: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:68-69).

   Let us call to mind the teachings of the Church in the Catechism. They remind us of the Pope’s responsibility, but also of the fact that he doesn’t carry this mission alone, but with the college of Bishops. “The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.” (#881) “The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.” “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.”” (#882) It doesn’t mean that every single Pope has been a saint, many have been, or that every single expression of a Pope is inspired by the Holy Spirit and a matter of faith. That happens in very specific situations, not everything is a dogma! But the Spirit assist the Church in the person of Peter so “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18).

   From the first Pope, to the one who just left us, each one is always in need of our prayers because of the immensity of his mission and his human condition immersed in weakness. It started by our Lord himself: “I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:32) Commitment that was entrusted again after the Resurrection and Peter’s response of love “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you”: ‘Peter, feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep’ (Jn 21:15-19)

Let us give thanks to God for his Church, for Peter and for the ministry of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.

   God Bless,