Today, I join the faithful in prayer for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, whose death marks the close of a deeply consequential—and controversial—chapter in the life of the Catholic Church. The death of a pope is always a moment of profound spiritual significance. It reminds Catholics everywhere that the papacy is not about a personality, but a promise—the enduring promise of Jesus Christ to be with His Church, to guide her through the storms of history, and to build her on the confession of St. Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Saints, Shepherds, and the Role of the Pope
We have been blessed in recent memory with towering figures whose pontificates reshaped the modern Church. In just the past 70 years, we’ve seen John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II—all canonized saints—lead the Church with bold clarity and faithful conviction. They exemplified what the Church teaches about the role of the papacy: to protect and proclaim the faith handed down through the ages—not to rewrite it, obscure it, or dilute it for the whims of the modern age.
The pope is the Vicar of Christ, a title that implies a referential authority—not an autonomous one. Even Jesus said, “My teaching is not my own, but comes from him who sent me” (John 7:16), and again of the Holy Spirit: “He will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears” (John 16:13). If that is true of the Son and the Spirit, how much more so must it be true for any earthly shepherd, pope, bishop, or priest.
A Time of Confusion
While we commend Pope Francis to the mercy of God with fraternal charity, we must also acknowledge the painful truth: his papacy has been one marked by deep confusion. Jesus charged Peter not only to lead, but to “strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32). The mission of the pope is not to blur lines, sow ambiguity, or politicize the Gospel—but to preach it with clarity, courage, and fidelity.
Francis’s tenure did not strengthen the brethren—it often perplexed them. Even senior cardinals of the Church issued public pleas for clarification on fundamental moral teachings—not because they doubted the truth, but because they doubted the clarity of the papal witness.
Whether it was the unclear language regarding the permanence of moral absolutes, the controversial blessing of same-sex unions, or the pages of theological contortions needed to justify his statements, Pope Francis often appeared less as a teacher of certainty and more as a source of theological fog.
Political Overreach and Spiritual Drift
Beyond theological ambiguity, Francis presided over a papacy marred by divisive political overreach. From appointments of questionable loyalty to the faith, to hostility toward traditional liturgical expressions, to harsh words for conservative Catholics, Pope Francis often alienated those most devoted to preserving the Church’s spiritual and doctrinal integrity.
His apparent disdain for political conservatives ignored a vital truth: that such believers are often the Church’s fiercest defenders when it comes to protecting religious liberty, the sanctity of life, and the integrity of the family.
A Crossroads for the Church
Now, with the nine-day mourning period underway and a new conclave on the horizon, the global Church stands at a crossroads. While Francis appointed the vast majority of current voting cardinals, their views are not monolithic. Many share the concerns of lay Catholics across the world, and recognize the wounds that have been inflicted over the last decade.
As the world turns away from radical progressive ideologies and toward commonsense and conservative renewal, the Church has an opportunity—and a calling—to do the same. The faithful are praying not for novelty, but for normalcy grounded in eternal truth.
A Prayer for Renewal
May the next pope be a man of resounding clarity, rooted in the timeless teaching of the Church, unafraid to speak the truth with love, and eager to heal the wounds many believers carry. May he “strengthen the brethren,” not scatter them.
The Church doesn’t need a politician in robes. It needs a shepherd who will guard the flock, teach the truth, and lead us all—not into confusion, but into Christ.