Statement of Bishop Douglas J. Lucia of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse on the death of Pope Francis:
As tears sting my eyes, I join the Catholic Church throughout the world mourning the death of our beloved Pope Francis, the 266th Successor of St. Peter, whose true giftedness to the Church of the 21st century will only be seen as we grow in synodality. Along with Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, our Bishop-emeritus, I offer our Diocesan Church’s condolences and deepest sympathies to the Bergoglio Family, to his Jesuit confreres, and to his collaborators in his service to the Universal Church. In the early hours of Easter Monday, in the midst of the Easter Octave, Pope Francis went like the holy women from the empty tomb of Christ – “And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them” (Mt. 28:9).
I pray that he heard Jesus’ greeting to his apostles on that first Easter night, “Peace be with you” and that he enjoys the eternal, loving embrace of our God. It is not lost on me as well that the Holy Father has returned to the Father’s house during a Jubilee Year, which he inaugurated by opening the Holy Doors located both in St. Peter’s Basilica and at Rebibbia Prison in Rome. At that time, during the Solemn Inauguration of the Jubilee Year in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception here in Syracuse on the Sunday after Christmas, I stated: “In truth, brothers and sisters, some of us may think we are too far gone to grow in our faith because of age, infirmity, or even more, our sinfulness. Let us not forget, it is the third-oldest Pope who has led us into this Jubilee celebration, even as he struggles with his own infirmity. Also, the day after Christmas, he went to the Rebibbia prison in Rome where he opened another Holy Door – a symbol that no one is ‘confined to their mistakes’ or too lost to be saved by Christ.
What one needs to do is to give Christ space and he will do the rest!” As one whom Pope Francis called to be a successor of the Apostles as a bishop, he has been my role model as a bishop. In particular, I call to mind my two meetings with him within weeks of my Ordination as the Bishop of Syracuse. The first was a “meet-and-greet” with bishops from throughout the world who were at “New Bishops” school. The second was a bit more personal as the Bishops of New York State sat down with him for a 90-minute meeting during our ad limina visit to Rome. I remember at the time as the rookie, I was asked to pose a question to the Holy Father. The question I posed was, “What advice would he give to a new bishop?”
He responded by telling me that a bishop had three places within the flock. The first position would be to lead the flock along the Way set out by Christ and His Church. The second one would be in the midst of the flock taking on the role of accompaniment on the journey and sharing Christ with those around us as happened on the road to Emmaus. The third place would be at the back of the flock, for there would be times I would need to get people moving in the living out of their faith. I haven’t forgotten his advice, along with his simplicity of life-style, that has made a lasting impression on my episcopal ministry within the Church. His care for human society, along with all of God’s creation, opened a new vista for me in my priestly service. His invitation for us in this Jubilee Year to be “Pilgrims of Hope” is a fitting legacy for his ministry among us.
I invite you now to join me in praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis – that despite the sinful human condition we all share in he will now come to experience firsthand the treasure of heaven and know the joy and peace of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace! Amen.
Your Servant in Christ,
Father Jason C. Hage, Pastor
Mary, Mother of Our Savior, pray for us!