As Popes Go

Darren G. Davis / STORM Comics/ Bluewater

O God, Who by Thine unspeakable providence was pleased to number Thy servant, Francis, among the Sovereign Pontiffs, grant, we beseech Thee, that he who reigned as the vicar of Thy Son on earth, may be joined in the fellowship with Thy holy Pontiffs forevermore; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

[ 7 minute read ]

As popes go, Pope Francis' was not as bad as some imagine... or was he? Yes, his comments and actions, while perhaps well intentioned, could be puzzling. His soundbites could be frustrating for their lack of precision.

Pope Francis was born just ahead of an era characterized by global war and totalitarianism. By the time Jorge Bergoglio reached his late twenties, the character of that era had metastasized into a rabid disdain for authority and become a generation known for its skepticism, licentiousness, and reactionary behaviour that has spawned devastating contemporary identity crises. The world had entered into a prolonged despair, or so it seemed. Hidden in the pews of various societies were great minds, great poets—the architects of renewal who understood that God was and is bringing the world back into the light. More precisely, God's outstretched hand, so to speak, is offered to those who risk hope and love and faith in Jesus Christ.

Not everyone of that generation has been taken in and become resentful. A remnant has witnessed and rejected the tragic errors of misguided prelates, priests, and people. They can and do credibly testify to the impotence of policies born of minds oriented more toward the god of relativism than to Jesus Christ and His holy Gospel.

Our reflections this side of heaven must avoid a judgement of the state of a soul that is now undergoing the judgement of God. Rather, we debate the merit of someone's teachings and actions and acknowledge the effects of those teachings in order to hold on to the good and to avoid committing the same or similar mistakes.

Archbishop-emeritus Charles J. Chaput

It becomes hard to avoid the conclusion that an undercurrent of resentment is one of the distinguishing and most regrettable marks of the Francis pontificate. Regrettable, because it damages the dignity of the petrine office. Regrettable, because it creates critics and enemies, rather than reconciling them. Regrettable, because it undercuts every pontificate’s central task: providing a credible, faithful source of Catholic unity. And the advisers, apologists, and ghostwriters who surround this pontificate have been instrumental in adding to the problem.

The character of the Francis pontificate brings to mind a political ideology that seeks to divide and conquer by creating class warfare to allow activists to then infiltrate the conflict between people desperate for a solution and push for the adoption of a form of a "solution" that would otherwise be rejected. A class warfare of sorts emerged during the various tiers of the Synod on Synodality. Though compromise was rightly rejected as a way to reconcile competing values, the entire prospect of creating a forum or introducing a near-democratic mechanism into the Church to promote communion has been an exercise in near futility and has produced nearly the opposite of communion and clarity of mission or purpose. There may have been much hearing of the voices of delegates at various levels, but were people really listening for or even capable of hearing the truth spoken by the Holy Spirit?

Unfortunately, Pope Francis's approach to communication contributed to doctrinal confusion, and that a pope should not do. The salvation of souls depends on clear teaching and merciful support to help souls embrace the truth and open themselves up to God. The Francis pontificate has lacked the doctrinal clarity, has contributed to an unsettling of pastoral cohesion, and has displaced the historical continuity provided by Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. A reading of diocesan reports reveals that the Synod on Synodality has done more to foster rebellion in some quarters than to achieve a renewed sense of mission and communion. There is significant growth in traditional Catholic communities, but it has seemed that those aligned with the Synod mindset are too proud to acknowledge where substantial growth is actually taking place. Are they resisting the action of the Holy Spirit?

Pope Francis brought a down-to-earthness to the Office of Peter that endeared many people to him and opened up avenues for people to consider the Gospel. Sadly, his careless off-the-cuff remarks also caused scandal and/or provoked others to avoid or reject the medicine of the truth spoken in love.

(Pope Francis') solidarity with those on the margins was admirable and presented a positive witness to the world. This is what non-believers expect of a spiritual leader, and Francis fulfilled those expectations. He stood up for traditional marriage, resisted calls for women’s ordination, tried to reign in the aggressively progressive German bishops and despite the uproar over “Pachamama” celebrated the liturgy with simple reverence and dignity.

His love of the poor and his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was laudable and exhibited by his frequent recourse to The Basilica of Mary Major in Rome where he went to pray and where he will be buried.—Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Thankfully, the terms of reference are clear regarding the assessment of the authority of papal teachings. To take a pontiff's words and writings seriously requires critical thinking. We are faithful when, seeking to deepen our faith, we parse a pope's teaching mindful of the standard: ubique, semper, et ab omnibus. Valid teachings are those that have been consistently believed by orthodox Christians across all times and places that conform to the truth of the written and oral Tradition of the Church. Thankfully, we have great minds such as those of Saint John Henry Newman and Saint Thomas Aquinas to help us navigate ideas. With access to online resources, many are discovering witnesses to dynamic authentic Catholic teaching and practice beyond the filtering of clergy and laity drunk on zany narratives and who want the rest of us to join them in the approval of and an addiction to wayward behaviors.

Pope Francis set a fast pace. He kept public right up to the end. His example in that regard merits praise. Imagine being in his condition, saddled with serious illness, and still welcoming others. Recall Jesus' own charity toward others in the midst of His sufferings.

According to Vatican News, before falling into a coma, Pope Francis made "a gesture of farewell with his hand" to his personal nurse and caregiver Massimiliano Strappetti. After touring Saint Peter's Square, he said to Strappetti, "Thank you for bringing me back to the Square."

Full account: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-his-final-calm-hours-and-the-thank-you.html

A pope's words can unleash powerful positive forces—the liberation of Poland and other nation states of the former Soviet Empire, for example. Pope Francis' invitation to accompany people has given the Church a vocabulary that allows us to avoid accusations of brutish proselytizing. However, some—e.g., Fr. James Martin, SJ—have used that vocabulary to enable sinful behaviors.

James 3:1 | Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

Of course, faithful Catholics pray for and with our popes that they and we together may offer faithful witness to the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ.

EVANGELII GAUDIUM | 163. Education and catechesis are at the service of this growth. We already possess a number of magisterial documents and aids on catechesis issued by the Holy See and by various episcopates. I think in particular of the Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae (1979), the General Catechetical Directory (1997) and other documents whose contents need not be repeated here. I would like to offer a few brief considerations which I believe to be of particular significance.

164. In catechesis too, we have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or kerygma, which needs to be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal. The kerygma is trinitarian. The fire of the Spirit is given in the form of tongues and leads us to believe in Jesus Christ who, by his death and resurrection, reveals and communicates to us the Father’s infinite mercy. On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.” This first proclamation is called “first” not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or replaced by other more important things. It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment. For this reason too, “the priest – like every other member of the Church – ought to grow in awareness that he himself is continually in need of being evangelized”.

The character of Pope Francis' tenure was messy. Given the Holy Father's own call to youth to make a mess, it hardly seems surprising that Pope Francis practiced what he preached and messed things up a bit. It may be that the outcome he envisioned is not of a kind the Holy Spirit seems to be bringing about. If news reports about people being received into the Church are any kind of evidence, people young and old in droves are seeking Jesus and the foundational story of the Church, a Gospel unvarnished and doctrinal clarity, and a liturgical form and life that is true, good, and beautiful. Time will tell whether or not circumstances had to become messier before real positive change could be enacted (by subsequent popes).

Pope Francis had big shoes to fill, and he was saddled with some very challenging issues, some he bungled badly.

• Damian Thompson: Daily Mail: article

Going forward, the Church surely needs a reliable guide and strong protector.

Again, Archbishop-emeritus Charles Chaput:

What the Church needs going forward is a leader who can marry personal simplicity with a passion for converting the world to Jesus Christ, a leader who has a heart of courage and a keen intellect to match it. Anything less won’t work.

Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Pray for the Church; that God may grant us a wise and virtuous shepherd.