Pope Francis' Legacy

As Pope Francis faces illness, the global Catholic community reflects on the vision he has championed throughout his papacy. From the moment he stepped into leadership, he has called for a church that is deeply rooted in inclusivity, mission, and mercy. His commitment to a faith that prioritises the marginalised and reaches out to all people has shaped the direction of the Church in profound ways.

As we consider his legacy, we are reminded of the foundation he has laid for a Church that truly embodies the image of "the People of God." Pope Francis’ stance on what the Church should look like is clear — he envisions “the image of the Church as the People of God” (Evangelii gaudium, 111-134). His values align with this vision, recognising the significance of various groups within society who contribute to upholding his ideals. He highlights the indispensable role of women, acknowledging that they “make an indispensable contribution to society.” He also uplifts young people, who “represent new directions for humanity” with their energetic and contagious hope for the future.

Additionally, he calls for those in “irregular situations” to be welcomed into the Church, ensuring that their voices are heard. As a Church of discipleship, we must go “to the peripheries” to include as many different groups as possible.

At the heart of this vision is the laity, who are “the vast majority of the People of God.” Pope Francis reiterates the importance of their role in shaping the Church’s mission, ensuring that all people feel included and empowered. He emphasises that to truly be a Church of the People of God, we must embrace a clear focus on being “in a state of mission.” He urges the Church to prioritise the needs of the people, even if it means becoming “bruised, hurting, and dirty” in the process. This willingness to go to the margins and serve with humility, fosters growth and strengthens the community. To be a Church for the people, we must embrace an identity as an “open house with open doors.” Without this openness, the community will falter, and those who are tied to the Church’s mission may feel unwelcome or disinterested in contributing.

Pope Francis calls for a “revolution of tenderness and love,” reminding us that if this transformation does not take place among the Church’s current members, his vision will remain a distant dream rather than a lived reality. With Pope Francis’ vision so clearly articulated, we are drawn back to our foundational teachings—the parables. We are called to live in “coexistence and encounter, of embracing and supporting one another,” much like the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep. By returning to these fundamental Gospel messages, the Church has the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that all who enter experience “pastoral ministry that meets people where they are and accompanies them.”

In an increasingly secular world, it is imperative to recognise that we are called to find “God in every human being,” not just those who share our convictions. If we are to be a Church truly made up of the People of God, we must commit to helping one another “wisely, patiently and mercifully on this path, this process of growth.” These ideas may sound simple, but in reality, they require a radical shift — one that places listening, compassion and mercy at the forefront of our mission.

As we reflect on Pope Francis’ leadership and his impact on the Church, we are left with a call to action: to ensure that his legacy of openness, inclusion and love continues to shape the Church for generations to come. This reflection is based out of the article "Open House: How Pope Francis sees the church" by Cardinal Walter Kasper https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/open-house-how-pope-francis-sees-the-church/936

Gospel Breakdown - Luke 6:39-45 1

1. Text: What does it say? He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

2. Message: What is Jesus’ message? This is a reminder to be mindful of who we follow and how we lead. We are always learning from others and, in turn, influencing those around us. Growth and understanding don’t happen in isolation—we gain wisdom from those who guide us and pass it on to others. So, who are you learning from? Who are your mentors? Who is shaping the person you are becoming? To put it another way, who do you admire? Who do you see as successful? Who do you aspire to be like? It’s not just about popularity, power, or status—it’s about whether the people guiding you have a strong sense of purpose and integrity. The people you choose to follow shape your character, values and mindset. Over time, these choices influence who you are on the inside and that’s what you project out into the world.

3. Response & Image: What is being asked of us? Jesus was saying that what's on the inside matters most and influences who you are on the outside. Bottom Line: Be truthful to who you are, who you want to be and choose people around you who share the vision.

Ms Hannah Hale

Director of Faith & Mission

Reflection

There is a reason why the Gospel of Luke is a popular choice for VCE Texts and Traditions classes. There are so many ideas and quotes that leap effortlessly across two thousand years to speak with meaning and purpose to our 21st century lives.

Last Sunday’s gospel passage from Luke could have come straight from the transcript of an imagined White House summit meeting between Donald Trump, J D Vance and God.

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?”

Or later in the meeting:

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.For every tree is known by its own fruit... A good person out of the store of goodness in their heart produces good.”

Bishop Terry Curtin, who celebrated our mass last Sunday, referenced in his sermon a beautiful story from the English priest and writer, Timothy Radcliffe.

Fr Radcliffe was presenting a conference paper on the topic of the spirituality of suffering and healing. It is a beautifully written paper and if you are interested you will find it at https://relforcon.org/files/radcliffe.a_spirituality_of_suffering.healing.pdf.

The story related to Fr Timothy’s brother Vincent who was born blind. One day when Vincent was walking around Liverpool with his white cane, he came to a busy road, and he asked someone if they could cross together. There followed a cacophony of horns and screeching brakes as the pair crossed the road. When they reached the other side, Vincent said, ‘Thank you so much for escorting me over.’ And the other person replied, ‘No, you escorted me. I’m blind!’

My response to this story was to reflect upon the moment my young wife and I held our first newborn child for the first time. I do recall the feeling that surely no other human had had an experience as amazing as this. But of course, the reality was that we were two ‘blind’ people trying to escort our family across the staggeringly busy, exciting and dangerous road of life.

Your correspondent has recently had the wonderful good fortune to travel around Cambodia. The image of the Naga, a cobra, is ever present as you wander the streets and temples. These statues refer to a story in which the Buddha was required to meditate during a storm. A Naga allowed the Buddha to sit on his coiled body and then flared his cobra head to protect the Buddha from the rain.

I was aware that I needed to view this image with eyes that were not conditioned by my western, morbid fear of snakes. Maybe, I pondered, that this image might say something about parenting. Our children, particularly our teenage children, can come to view their parents as Naga like creatures. The role of loving parents is to look through such rebelliousness and continue to offer the supports that lift them up and shelter them from the rains.

As we live and grow with our children, there is a twofold message from Luke’s gospel.

Pay attention to how we see.

Recognise the goodness in our family members by the fruits that they produce.

Mr Mark Hyland

Guest Contributor

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