“Don’t forget to speak to your people about eternity”

A Memorial Mass is a moment to pray, grieve, remember, and treasure – all of this found its place in the Memorial that Bishop Mulvey and more than 30 priests from the diocese celebrated to honor Pope Francis. Many people came to pray even before it started, expressing their gratitude for the pontificate of Pope Francis: “He was a great leader” – “He was the first Pope from the Americas” – “His humility was inspiring,” were comments many people shared.
 
With festive music by the Pontifical Chorale, the solemn mass paid tribute to a man, a humble servant of the Lord, who changed the Church with his example and words. In his homily, Bishop Mulvey remembered that almost nobody knew him when he was elected twelve years ago. When asked, “Who are you?”, Pope Francis would always answer, “I am a sinner.” That, according to the Bishop, reveals a lot about him: “He wanted to be among us, like us.”
 
He recalled that during an Ad Limina visit with the bishops of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, Pope Francis welcomed them at the door, shook their hands, and ensured they had drinks and snacks. “He was like a brother.” He understood the human condition, the weaknesses, but also the potential that each person has, “He knew what it meant to be close to the people.”
 
Pope Francis was a man of dialogue. “He went to Ur in Iraq to meet and pray with members Muslims and Jews because he wanted to live out Jesus’ prayer, ‘Father, that they may all be one’ (Jn 17:21).” He took the name Francis, as the first pope ever, to remember the poor and the marginalized. “He visited with the homeless, but he wanted them always to be more – to be children of God.” All of us, concluded Bishop Mulvey, are called to the same ministry of closeness.
 
At the end of the Mass, the Bishop recalled that the Pope had told them during one visit, “Please, do not forget to talk to your people about eternity – our final destiny is heaven.” In the last few days, the Pope did that with all of us, and while he had always said, “don’t forget to pray for me,” now we can say to him, “don’t forget to pray for us.”