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How unique is this year’s Easter? For
Roman Catholics, this Easter feast will be the first one with the new
Pope Francis. Will it be a new hope too for us and for everyone
everywhere?
Some scholars
have said that John Paul II was the Pope of Hope, Benedict XVI the Pope
of Faith and Francis the Pope of Charity.
But, in my
mind, Pope Francis is perfect combination of the three.
Let us follow
the story. On March 13, 2013, the bells of St. Peter’s started ringing
and the crowds began cheering moments after 7 p.m. local time, as white
smoke from the Sistine Chapel indicated Habemus Papam (We have a Pope),
Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, 76, the archbishop of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, is the 266th successor of St. Peter. He took the name Francis.
What is the
new hope from the new pope as a present of Easter this year?
First of all,
the pope is humble and smart. Let us analyze his first words as pope. He
said simply, “Brothers and sisters, good evening! You know that the duty
of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as though my
brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world to get him. But
here we are. I thank you for your welcome. The diocesan community of Rome
has a bishop. Thank you!”
These words
are very simple, human and warm. The Holy Father Francis — the name he
took — represents simplicity and peace. The pope continued, “Before all
else, I would like to say a prayer for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord may bless him and that
Our Lady may watch over him!”
He then
prayed with the crowd, citing the familiar prayers of Our Father, Hail
Mary and Glory be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
After
praying, Pope Francis said, “And now let us begin this journey, together
as bishop and people. This journey of the Church of Rome, which is to
preside over all the Churches in charity. It is a journey of fraternity,
of love, of trust between us. Let us always pray for one another. Let us
pray for the world, so that a great brotherhood may be created.”
Pope Francis
gave us the power to have hope in the three important things needed in
our life today: fraternity, love and mutual trust, which elude our world
today.
Pope Francis
sprang a surprise when he said, “And now I would like to give you my
blessing. But before I do, I would like to ask you a favor: before the
bishop blesses the people, I ask you to pray to the Lord that He may
bless me. The prayer of the people for a blessing upon their bishop. Let
us take a moment of silence for you to offer your prayer for me.”
There was no
precedence in the history of Urbi et Orbi, or the new pope’s first
blessing for Vatican city and the world. It is the new pope and not the
people who should give the blessing.
He continued,
“Brothers and Sisters, I leave you now. Thank you for your welcome. Pray
for me. And we will see one another again soon. Tomorrow I want to go and
pray to Our Lady and ask her to watch over Rome. Good night and have a
good rest.”
It was an
extraordinary moment in history. This is a new hope from the new pope. As
Jesus Christ had given us all a new hope by his resurrection and so too
has Pope Francis. The Catholic leader has created the house of peace for
the Church and the world.
What kind of
peacefull house has Pope Francis created? He explained it in his sermon
on the day of the inauguration of his Petrine ministry on March 19.
”Let us
respect each of God’s creatures and the environment in which we live.
Let’s protect people, showing loving concern for each and every person,
especially children, the elderly and those in need, who are often the
last we think about.”
The house of
peace is so simple. It means caring for one another in our families:
husbands and wives first protect one another, and then, as parents, they
care for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their
parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect
one another in trust, respect and goodness.
Whenever
human beings fail to live up to this responsibility, whenever we fail to
care for creation and for our brothers and sisters, the way is open to
destruction and hearts are hardened.
In my mind,
this is authentic to Easter. In the first week of his ministry, Pope
Francis gave us good news at Easter. And so, we it is of no surprise to
hear that Pope Francis plans to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s
Supper at the Casal del Marmo detention center for minors in Rome on
Thursday, March 28. It will be Pope Francis’ first visit to a prison
since his papal election.
This is not
new. In his ministry as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the then Cardinal
Bergoglio celebrated mass in prison, hospital or a hospice for the poor
or marginalized people. With the celebration at Casal del Marmo, Pope
Francis continues in this characterized simplicity.
May this not
only be a good news for us, but also make us follow in the steps of the
pope with so many new hopes. Happy
Easter. ●
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