I was with my dear friend, Father Thomas Parenti. We were enjoying a beautiful day in Marin county. Suddenly, white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel. The conclave concluded that elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the 266th successor of Peter.

He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus, the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.

Thank you, Holy Father, for the witness you gave to the Church. My wife and I travelled to Rome. We wanted to be with you and attain your blessing. This marked the beginning of our vocation as husband and wife. Your papal blessing was a gift on our wedding day.

One moment etched in my heart, where I looked to you for comfort was in the early days of the pandemic. You stood in the rain alone… affirmed that we are all in the same boat as we journey through life. Here’s a glimpse:

There is much you gave to the Church. It would be difficult to sum it up here. You have given us a deep sense of the closeness of God to his sheep. Thank you for reminding us that God never tires of forgiving us, we tire of asking forgiveness.

Every man who ascends to the Petrine ministry desires to serve the church with Peter’s heart.

At the end of his life, tradition said Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to be crucified like his Lord.

Every person who gives their life to Christ is changed. Every Bishop who shepherds the Church of Rome is turned upside down in heartfelt service to Christ. Their world is turned upside down because they begin to see the world through the heart of Christ.

Let us pray.

O God, faithful rewarder of souls,
grant that your departed servant Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.