Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

April 27, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

Many of you share with me a true sadness over the death of Pope Francis. I enjoyed referring to him in homilies as “our friend in Rome.” We enjoyed his writings, reflections, and homilies. Most recently, in our parish “Pilgrimage of Hope” for the Jubilee Year 2025, his Hope: The Autobiography has provided much material for our prayer and reflection.

My memories of Francis are many. I remember still, upon his election as Pope, watching in the late afternoon how he greeted the millions gathered in St. Peter’s Square and on worldwide television his simple greeting “buonasera”, “good evening.” He stood simply, hands at his side as he asked for prayers. The simplicity of that first evening would characterize the next 12 years of his leadership.

The stories of his paying his own hotel bill after the conclave, his choice of residence as a hotel apartment, his car choice, a small fiat, his choice of clothing all suggested he would bring his own personality and set of values to his time as Vicar of Christ. I will never forget his simply, straightforward statement, “I am a sinner” that gave such meaning and credibility to his emphasis on mercy and his proclamation of the Year of Mercy 2015-16.

I will always remember his visit to New York City in September 2015, his visit coinciding with a serious fire in the rectory. Father Rudy was so very determined to see the Pope that day; his clerical attire destroyed in the fire, a generous parishioner family made sure that Fr. Rudy had a new suit so he could see the Pope!

We remember his Holy Thursday visits to hospitals and prisons where he would wash the feet of the sick and the incarcerated. Pope Francis insisted on keeping company with those in need. He encouraged us all to do the same as he spoke on behalf of migrants, refugees, and the poor. His message was consistent and always in line with the gospel.

He navigated, preached, and answered difficult questions. On issues where others gained headlines with acrimonious debate, Pope Francis spoke calmly and when needed, forcefully. He offered blessings to all, regardless of sexual orientation; he spoke of the evil of nuclear weapons; he rejected walls between nations; he addressed the need for women to be given greater responsibility in the Church.

His writings addressed so many topics. He spoke of the Church as a field hospital; he wanted clergy to “have the smell of the sheep.” Pope Francis told us we need to pay attention to our care for the planet or subsequent generations will suffer. He called for a universal sense of sisters and brothers loving one another. He reminded us of the sacredness of marriage, the importance of family, and the holiness of every human life. He consistently reminded us of the sacredness of the unborn in the womb. His encyclicals, Apostolic letters, and Exhortations were all encouragements for us to know Jesus and the gospel message.

I especially enjoyed his homilies and his Angelus addresses that he twice weekly delivered at St. Peter’s. I would read his homilies from years past and share with you words of Pope Francis that I found inspirational, affirming, and still challenging. I will continue to research these and use them as resources.

Like every leader, like every person who lives and preaches the gospel, Pope Francis faced criticism. One criticism aimed at Francis was that he was unclear or obscure. Some even suggested that was the case with teachings of the Church. I have never felt that way and thought that criticism of Francis was grossly unfair and manifested a lack of depth of understanding of his writings and thought. Francis recognized the complexity of Christian life; his teachings always encouraged personal discernment, prayer, and attentiveness to the words of Jesus, the Church’s magisterial teaching and tradition, and the example of the saints. His devotion to Mary, made clear as he began and concluded his voyages, and by the choice of his burial place made him a supreme teacher of our Catholic faith. Where critics suggested a lack of clarity or faithfulness to tradition, I believe the inspiration, challenge, and fidelity of Pope Francis simply proved to be too much for those critics.

I was only in the presence of Pope Francis on two occasions. The first was a historical occasion. On the Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014, Pope Francis canonized and officially declared as saints Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Present with Francis was Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. What a great and memorable day for all of us who were present, Francis and the former Pope, Benedict. A very unique historical moment! Four years later I was again present in Rome as Pope Francis gave his noon blessing in St. Peter’s Square. I continue to be grateful for those pilgrimages to Rome and those who afforded me those opportunities.

These later years of Francis remained very active to his very last day. The three-year Synod process still challenges us. As Francis insisted, the Synod was led by the Holy Spirit. It required listening, openness, and further work as the Church seeks to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Many struggled with the Synod’s emphasis on listening and dioceses and parishes in varying degrees labor to become a “more Synodal Church.” As the Synod meetings closed, Pope Francis proclaimed this 2025 Jubilee Year to be a Year of Hope, his second Jubilee Year after the Year of Mercy. This past month, the Church received one of the last gifts of Pope Francis’ pontificate. He shared Pope Francis – Hope: The Autobiography. I read it, too quickly, so that I fail to remember and appreciate some of the magnificent passages of this volume.

In his autobiography, Pope Francis reflects on his life as a Jesuit priest. His young life was inspired by the wisdom and mission of St. Ignatius Loyola. One appreciation I have of Pope Francis is his regard for the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. These “Exercises” often lead to an extended retreat, ideally done in 30 days. It is a retreat marked by silence, prayer, scripture, and contemplation. I completed the 30-day retreat as a seminarian in 1989 at Eastern Point retreat House in Gloucester, Massachusetts. There I hope to do another 30-day retreat, maybe as early as next January. I anticipate a grace that retreat will be re-reading Hope: The Autobiography by our friend, Pope Francis. In that silent retreat atmosphere, I look forward to understanding more deeply the wisdom of this man.

The concluding chapter of Hope is entitled, “I Am Just One Step.” As we anticipate a new Holy Father, let’s be encouraged by Pope Francis’ own words: “The Church always has a future. It is curious that the Church has roots in the past, in Christ living, living during his own time, in his Resurrection; and it has roots in the future, in the promise of Christ who remains with us until the end of time. And in this promise there is the future of the Church…

“The Church will go on; I am just one step in its history.” We are privileged that Pope Francis shared in so many meaningful ways his faith journey with us.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Tom

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