Pope Francis passed away at age 88 on Monday, April 21, just after he celebrated Easter with thousands of other Catholics in St. Peter’s Square.
There are 1.4 billion Catholics across the globe, with 11 million of them residing in California (29% of the state’s population). For them, Pope Francis was a beacon of hope who did his best to lead the Church on a path of humility, empathy and compassion during troubled times. Soon, the decision making process for Pope Francis’s successor, known as a conclave, will begin in the Vatican.
The conclave will begin on May 7 and will consist of approximately 135 cardinal electors, all of whom must be cardinals under the age of 80. The new pope must receive two-thirds of the vote in order to win the papacy. Currently, some of the possible successors are Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Luis Tagle and Cardinal Peter Erdo.
For lay members of the Catholic Church, the decision-making process is entirely out of their hands. Catholics mourn the loss of the Pope amidst a time of uncertainty as the College of Cardinals wrestles with the question of who will succeed Francis and lead the Church and what direction they will take.
CATHOLIC BIOLANS AND THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS
Earlier this year, I had discussed that the Catholic experience at Biola has been less than satisfactory. Catholics make up approximately 3.2% of Biola’s student body, yet have experienced direct and indirect discriminatory comments, rude jokes and even threats. Struggling with grief and loss amidst this ostracization can create intense loneliness, sorrow and self-doubt.
“When I woke up [Monday] morning, right after I got the notification [of the Pope’s death], there was a crass and hurtful pedophile joke about the Pope and all other Catholic priests from someone on my floor,” said sophomore health science major Tyler Jones. “Frustrating and hard to hear, but also not unexpected given my other experiences as a Catholic convert at Biola.”
The Catholic and protestant divide at Biola is a strong one — while Biola is an evangelical protestant school, Catholic Biolans struggle with finding a safe place to express their grief and perhaps even anxiety about the next pope.
“Having once been evangelical, I know much of the campus is going to feel ambivalent at best about the Pope and what he represents,” said Jones. “I truly, truly understand that — I do. That said, you can ardently disagree with someone and still show respect for the loss of a life and to your grieving siblings without compromising your own beliefs. On the other hand, crass humor and snide remarks are ineffective apologetic tools, not becoming of an evangelist, let alone of a brother in Christ — especially on the day of death.”
Catholic or not, Biolans of all denominations should seek to be sensitive to their brothers and sisters in Christ. The Pope represented not just an administrative leader in the Church, but also a spiritual guide who demonstrated to believers around the world how to show grace and strength in the face of adversity. His shortcomings, too, taught us that even a leader can sin, ask for forgiveness and be reconciled with Christ. The Pope was not perfect, and his successor will not be either.
Popes are not perfect and Catholics are well aware of this. However, there is much to learn and admire about Francis’ life and ministry that can help all of us walk with Christ.
The sudden loss of such a guide results in uncertainty and perhaps even spiritual doubt when we see hate, misconceptions and even misrepresentations of who Pope Francis was. Biola is meant to be a place of Christ-like fellowship across theological beliefs. There does not have to be complete understanding or agreement in order to aid your brothers and sisters in grief. A few kind words or even checking in can demonstrate our ability to love our neighbors in times of hardships, despite what obstacles may lie between us. On the other hand, small comments, ignorance, or even shaming Catholics at Biola can do immense damage to one spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
“I am grateful to my other friends (and even a professor) who have reached out to ask how I’m doing and to offer condolences despite the theological divide,” said Jones. “That means more to me than words can describe.”
Even if you don’t agree or fully understand the Catholic faith, checking in with your fellow Catholic Biolans can go a long way. To have lost a strong Church leader during a time of political polarization, economic struggles and social turmoil — combined with the stress and anxiety of the end of the semester (and perhaps even graduation) — can make the future feel bleak and frightening. A gentle reminder that you’re not alone can bring healing in the face of the loneliness, ostracization and doubt that makes up the Catholic experience at Biola.
MOVING FORWARD IN FELLOWSHIP AMIDST GRIEF
For now, Catholics across the globe eagerly await the results of the upcoming conclave. Pope Francis will be remembered as the Pope who made great strides to make the Church a more welcoming and compassionate place for the poor and marginalized.
Greg Peters, an ordained Anglican priest and Torrey Honors professor at Biola, is unsure of what may come out of the conclave.
“With the passing of Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church is given another opportunity to chart its future under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” said Peters. “Given that there are some strong areas of disagreement among Roman Catholics (e.g. the place of the Latin Mass, synodality, etc.), the upcoming conclave might be one of the most important in modern history. At the same time, the selection of the College of Cardinal should matter to all Christians, as the pope is easily the most recognized leader of Christianity in the world.”
As we approach the end of the semester and the conclave, let us remember that our brothers and sisters in Christ will be deeply impacted on a multitude of levels by the selection of Pope Francis’s successor. As a Catholic myself, Pope Francis meant a lot to my family and I. He was an Argentinian native raised by Italian immigrant parents like my grandmother, who was born and raised in Argentina by Italian immigrant parents. This personal connection was always special to my family, and I have greatly admired Pope Francis’s hard work in guiding the Church through such tumultuous times. I wait in anxiety and anticipation for the announcement of his successor, and pray that he will be able to follow in his footsteps.
For Biola students struggling with this time of loss and transition, coupled with the stress of finals and the end of the semester, here is a prayer I wrote for Biolans, Catholic and non-Catholic, to pray during this season of stress:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gift of Pope Francis, a leader of humility, grace and compassion for the poor, hurt and discarded.
Who used his gifts to bring unity to the Church in a time of division and guide the Church in a time of uncertainty.
We thank you for a strong and knowledgeable leader, and we pray that you welcome him into your embrace and grant him eternal peace and rest.
Please watch over the Church members who are suffering from grief and loss. Give them strength and peace in their mourning.
We pray that during this time of transition, the Church is able to select a kind and compassionate leader to follow after Pope Francis.
In your name we pray,
Amen.
