Addio, carissimo Papa Francesco

The following is a reflection that Father Daniel Patrick Huang SJ, wrote the night before Pope Francis’ burial on Saturday, 26 April.

On the night before you are buried, my heart aches with sorrow and a deep sense of loss at the thought that you are no longer with us. At the same time, I thank God for the unexpected gift that you have been to the Church, to our world, and to me.

You often spoke of the God of surprises, the God always greater than the limits of our imaginations and expectations. You yourself were such a blessed surprise. I was in the Piazza when your name was announced as the new Pope. Contrary to what others thought, we did not rejoice at first, because I and some other brother Jesuits did not have a good impression of you from what we knew of your time as Provincial of Argentina. You later humbly spoke of your many mistakes; after all, you were only in your ‘30s when Fr Arrupe named you Provincial. The point is: I, we, thought we knew you. You surprised us and happily proved us so wrong!

What you were, to my mind, is first and always, a witness. You made the Gospel fresh and attractive again for the people of our time. You focused on the heart of the Gospel, what is most essential and beautiful. Your simplicity and humility made you seem very close to us. You edified us when you chose to live in two simple rooms in Casa Santa Marta. When you finished your Sunday Angelus, after your blessing, you charmed and surprised people by wishing them, “Buon Pranzo!”—a simple, human greeting that showed us you understood our ordinary lives. 

You never tired of speaking of the God of Jesus Christ as mercy, tenderness, closeness. You washed the feet of prisoners, you cared for the young and showed tenderness to the old, you welcomed the excluded. You called us to care for the poor and for our common home, and in a world increasingly divided and fearful of those who are different, you challenged us to build a culture of encounter and to promote fraternity and peace. You showed the world that loving and following Jesus makes us more deeply human, more compassionate, happier and freer. 

I don’t think I knew anyone as fearless as you: you persevered despite so much opposition and you continued to dream. You sought to make real the vision of the church of the Second  Vatican Council. A church that goes forth, centered on mission, evangelization, dialogue, service. A church of missionary disciples, in which all share the same dignity and responsibility as baptized Christians. A synodal Church, that is close to people and accompanies them, that listens, discerns and walks together. A community of pilgrims of Hope. 

You were always our brother Jesuit. You always made time to meet and encourage your brothers in every country you visited. I had the privilege of meeting you and shaking your hands at least ten times! I recall the first time I met you, on the feast of St Ignatius in 2013, you told me not to tell others but you were going to visit the Philippines because you were so touched by the tears of Cardinal Tagle when he spoke about the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. I decided not to tell you that Cardinal Tagle cries all the time! Another time, I was embarrassed that your first words to me were: “Did you enjoy your meat?” Apparently, you noticed me sitting at the next table in the refectory in the Curia, obviously so rapturous when we were served steak, which we never usually ate, because of your visit! 

You graciously came to speak to us at the 36th General Congregation. You reminded us that a Jesuit is the servant of the joy of the gospel and invited us to ask tirelessly for consolation, to stand beside and to serve the crucified of the world, to share St Ignatius’ gift of discernment to the church. 

Thank you for 12 years of consolation and inspiration. Your writings, homilies, tweets, nourished my heart and mind, and I have been happy to teach your ideas in many different contexts. You understood, more perceptively than most, the nature of our times: that we are living a change of eras, in a time of ecological, political, social, technological, relational, and spiritual crisis. Yet you always had the courage of hope, and always encouraged us to hope, which for you is not just a feeling but a way of acting, founded on faith and seeking to build a better future for others. In so many instances, especially during the pandemic, you celebrated the goodness, sacrifice, love and service of so many ordinary people, and invited us to see them as signs of God’s Spirit at work in our world.

In this crazy world and difficult time, it would have been so good to have you continue as our leader and guide.  I confess I feel a little lost and apprehensive, now that we no longer have you. Teach me to continue to trust in the God of surprises. Help us to keep your legacy alive by living and teaching what you taught and lived. You always asked us to pray for you. I always did. Now, please pray for us. Thank you so much.

Ti vogliamo bene, ti vogliamo tanto bene.