Just two weeks after Francis was elected pope in March of 2013, he celebrated the annual Chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Holy Thursday morning. In his homily that day, speaking to 1,500 priests in attendance, he said:
“This I ask you: be shepherds, with the ‘odor of the sheep,’ make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men.”
We heard that a few more times during his papacy, and I think it characterizes Pope Francis well. He was a shepherd who felt called to be with his sheep.
Francis became the epitome of what I wanted to be as a parish priest. He was a true shepherd, and everyone was part of his flock. Anyone seeking Jesus was important to him as he sought to bring the Lord’s presence to those who may have forgotten how much God means to them – and how much they mean to God.
I was blessed to meet Pope Francis when he came to Washington in 2015, visited Catholic Charities and had lunch with some of our clients. I had only a few moments with him, but I’ll never forget seeing his love for the poor shining forth in his smile, his care and his service to those in his presence. I still think about that smile and the deep connection he had with those he met.
When I think of Pope Francis, I see Jesus, who also welcomed, accepted and encountered people where they were. He spoke tenderly to the adulterous woman, mercifully refusing to condemn her, and encouraged her to sin no more. He healed and forgave the paralytic handed down on a stretcher through a hole in the thatched roof. He forgave Peter, who denied him three times. And so many other grace-filled moments.
Pope Francis also acted much like his namesake, Francis of Assisi, living the gospel as we all should. I have always loved the quote attributed to St. Francis: “Preach the gospel at all times, and, when necessary, use words.” Pope Francis did that, and he inspired me to continue trying my best to do that every day.
As the former head of Catholic Charities here in Washington, I admired how Francis advocated so strongly for the very people we served. He lived Catholic social teaching in his preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.
That included the materially and spiritually poor, the homeless, the hungry, the unemployed, those with mental illness, the immigrant, and all in need of love and care. Pope Francis spoke often of every life having God-given dignity and the importance of leaving no one behind.
The immigration debate in particular has intensified as Francis goes home to God. It is sad to see many immigrants, those trying to innocently live their lives, increasingly deported when they have done nothing to deserve that treatment.
Pope Francis received much attention about his attitude toward those with different orientations, but it was clear that he cared deeply. He was criticized because he was willing to welcome and be respectful toward those in our world and in our Church with a homosexual orientation. He never denied or changed Church teaching, but he always wanted to meet people where they were.
I loved some of Francis’s phrases, like “the smell of the sheep” I mentioned before. It was full of imagery as he encouraged priests to get out of their rectories and into the streets, to meet people and walk with them, to let them sense God’s presence in the way we minister.
Here’s another: “How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor.” It’s a beautiful sentiment central to the Gospel that resonated with me especially in my time at Catholic Charities. It still does.
I also love how Pope Francis encouraged the youth of the world and all of us to “make a mess.” One time I teased Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who was then the archbishop of Washington, telling him that I was making a mess at Catholic Charities. He laughed, but he knew what I meant. Taking care of our family, friends, those in need and those who are suffering can be messy and inconvenient.
It requires sacrifice and service. Jesus’ death on the cross was messy, but he did it anyway, out of love, and he saved us all through his sacrifice. Francis reminded us to do the same, to love our neighbor by reaching out and taking care of those who come our way. Catholic Charities does this so well, as does the entire Church, in ways that often go unnoticed.
I should also mention Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which was subtitled “On Care for our Common Home.” Most people did not expect the Church to talk about the environment, but it is clearly an important issue – whether it be the way we handle our supply of water, protect our Earth, or make sure our air is clean. He encouraged us to protect God’s great gift, given to us not just to live but also to steward for future generations.
Pope Francis became one of my role models. My philosophy in 52 years of priesthood has been to “say yes” whenever possible, and Francis did that. He had a reputation for being more distant in his earlier years, but the Holy Spirit seemed to infuse him with a drive and energy to be present to people and to get things done up until the very end.
I will miss Pope Francis, and I am grateful for his time as pope. I will miss his love and care for others. And to be honest, I’ll miss people telling me from time to time, “Father John, you're acting like Pope Francis,” when I would do something they thought was particularly helpful or supportive. I took that to mean, “You’re acting like Jesus.”
That’s what it has always been about. I believe Francis lived that in his 12 years as pope, and I thank him for that, and for inspiring me to continue doing my best to act like Jesus, no matter how long I have been and will continue to be a priest.
(Msgr. John Enzler serves as the mission advocate of Catholic Charities of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and is a chaplain at his alma mater, St. John’s College High School in Washington. He writes the Faith in Action column for the archdiocese’s Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites.)
