Pope Francis’ pontificate lasted for 12 years. He was an amazing Pope and will be fondly missed by those of us who work for charity and social ministries. His greatness is not based on great political and social power but on his adherence to the Gospel message and his ability to engage on contemporary issues, both social and ecclesial. He promoted a vision of the Church based on the consistent teachings of Jesus and the recognition of Jesus’ mission to promote the Kingdom of God on earth.
During these twelve years Pope Francis responded to social issues and also worked diligently to reform the Church. He wrote some of the most amazing documents for the life of the Church and as a professor and promoter of Catholic social teaching I could not help but offer blogs on these teachings:
- Evangelii Gaudium - The Joy of the Gospel
- Laudato Si’ - On the Environment
- Fratelli Tutti - on Global Solidarity
- Amoris Laetitia - On the Wounded Family
- Dilexit Nos - On the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- World Day of Peace Message 2025
- World Day of the Poor 2024
- World Day of Migrant and Refugees 2024
The wisdom of Pope Francis includes the use of metaphors to highlight the social ministries of the Church. This includes one of my favorite being the notion that the Church ought to be a “field hospital” to heal the wounds and warm the hearts of those who are afflicted with poverty, isolation, and indifference. This, of course, became the title of my own book as I unpacked the world of Catholic social ministry based on this metaphor. His was a vision that raised the message of Christ’s mercy and love to all and responded consistently to social issues based on that message.
At Pope Francis’ funeral Cardinal Battista raised this principle in the homily he offered.
The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open. He often used the image of the Church as a “field hospital” after a battle in which many were wounded; a Church determined to take care of the problems of people and the great anxieties that tear the contemporary world apart; a Church capable of bending down to every person, regardless of their beliefs or condition, and healing their wounds. His gestures and exhortations in favor of refugees and displaced persons are countless. His insistence on working on behalf of the poor was constant.
I will certainly miss Pope Francis and his dedication to charity and social ministry. I hope and pray that this aspect of his legacy will continue to flourish in the life of the Church.