VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a moving homily at the requiem Mass for Pope Francis, reflecting on the late pontiff’s profound impact on the Catholic Church and the world. The Mass, held in St. Peter’s Basilica, honored Pope Francis, who passed away after a pontificate marked by compassion, mercy, and a commitment to the marginalized.
Cardinal Re highlighted the final image of Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, when, despite severe health challenges, he blessed the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and greeted crowds in an open-top popemobile. “This will remain etched in our memory,” Re said, noting the Pope’s determination to remain close to his flock until his final days.
Elected on March 13, 2013, as the successor to Pope Benedict XVI, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis, signaling a pontificate inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s spirit of humility and service. Drawing on his 21 years of pastoral experience in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis brought a distinctive style of leadership, characterized by spontaneity, accessibility, and direct engagement with people. “He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone,” Re said, emphasizing Francis’ attention to the poor, refugees, and those in difficulty.
The homily underscored Pope Francis’ missionary vision, rooted in evangelization and the “joy of the Gospel,” as articulated in his 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. He envisioned the Church as a “field hospital” that heals the wounded and welcomes all, regardless of belief or condition. His first papal journey to Lampedusa, a symbol of the immigration crisis, and subsequent trips to Lesbos and the U.S.-Mexico border exemplified his advocacy for migrants and displaced persons.
Cardinal Re praised Francis’ commitment to interreligious dialogue and peace, citing his 2021 trip to Iraq as a “balm on the open wounds” of a people devastated by ISIS. His 2024 apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania reached “the most peripheral periphery,” reflecting his global outreach. The 2019 document on human fraternity, signed in the United Arab Emirates, and his encyclical Laudato Si’ underscored his call for solidarity and care for creation.
A staunch advocate for peace, Pope Francis repeatedly condemned war as a “tragic defeat for everyone,” urging negotiation and reason amid recent global conflicts. His mantra, “Build bridges, not walls,” encapsulated his vision of a Church and world united in fraternity.
The homily concluded with a poignant reversal of Pope Francis’ frequent request, “Do not forget to pray for me.” Cardinal Re addressed the late pontiff, saying, “Dear Pope Francis, now we ask you to pray for us,” asking for his heavenly intercession for the Church, Rome, and the world.
The requiem Mass, attended by a large gathering of the faithful, marked a solemn farewell to a pontiff whose legacy of mercy, inclusion, and hope continues to resonate globally.
