Search
-
April 22, 2025We celebrate this Holy Mass in the octave of Easter. The resurrection of Christ is too great a celebration to be contained in a single day. Throughout this week we celebrate the Lord's Easter, the risen Jesus who conquered evil and death for ever.
But this Holy Mass is marked by a particular intention: this morning we received the sad news that our beloved Pope Francis has concluded his earthly mission and has returned to the house of the Father.
We are all saddened by his death. His pontificate, from 13 March 2013 until today, has been extraordinarily rich in prophetic gestures, significant encounters and a deep teaching that has faced the key challenges of our time. Pope Francis has committed all his strength to the renewal of the Church.
He has shown us the merciful face of God the Father; he showed his closeness to everyone, to the poor, to prisoners, to the sick; he had promoted everyday peace among those who are divided and in war. He wanted to bring everyone the joy of the Gospel.
Pope Francis was particularly significant for us, for his closeness to all migrants. He fought for the promotion of their rights. We, who are a Church of migrants, have felt his closeness and his love for us.
Furthermore, his visit here to Abu Dhabi in February 2019 is unforgettable for us. We all remember his visit to our Cathedral of Saint Joseph here in Abu Dhabi; his tenderness towards us, the way in which he met so many of you right here.
We also remember the solemn celebration in the Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi. The words he pronounced in the homily are so precious for us even today: "It is said that between the written Gospel and the lived one there is the same difference that exists between written and played music. Here you know the melody of the Gospel and live the enthusiasm of its rhythm. You are a choir that includes a variety of nations, languages and rites; a diversity that the Holy Spirit loves and wants to harmonize more and more, to make a symphony. This joyful polyphony of faith is a testimony that you give to everyone and that builds up the Church". His words are for us a precious legacy that we are committed to deepening.
His visit to Abu Dhabi will remain unforgettable also for the signing of the prophetic document on Human Fraternity, on dialogue between people of different faiths to promote peace in the world and build a more fraternal world. Pope Francis signed that precious document together with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar. We too are committed to continuing on this path of dialogue and promotion of peace and reconciliation between peoples.
In addition to these events, many documents of Pope Francis remain for us a legacy not to be missed: the document Fratelli tutti, on the promotion of social friendship to overcome divisions and discrimination. On the footsteps of saint Francis of Assisi he wrote the document Laudati Sii on the protection of creation as gifts from God for us and for future generations, up to his recent encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in which he told us once again the foundation of all his commitment: Christ's love for us that pushes us to love others, whoever they may be.
Finally, the last days of his pontificate, marked by illness, will remain fixed in our memory. He indeed did love until the end, in the footsteps of Jesus. He continued to pray and work for peace and reconciliation of peoples.
Just yesterday, despite his state of health, he wanted to give his Easter blessing Urbi et Orbi, walking for the last time through St. Peter's Square, crowded with people, and bringing his greeting among the people for the last time. This morning, at 7:35 his heart stopped to definitively enter the life of God.
The Gospel we have heard helps us to live this moment of mourning: Jesus meets the women who had rushed to the tomb. Shocked at finding it empty, they meet Jesus who says to them: Do not be afraid. We too, this evening feel the lack of Pope Francis. However, we know that Christ is risen and has conquered death. We are invited to believe in the victory of Christ in which Pope Francis is now fully participating. Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis in these days, that the Lord may welcome him into heaven and help us to make his spiritual inheritance bear fruit in the Church. Amen.
Photo Album