Reflections on the visit of Pope Francis

In his very brief visit to Ireland last August, Pope Francis left us a lot to think and pray about. Many of the events attracted widespread media coverage during and after the visit – in this article I want to focus on some of the things the Pope actually said that I found particularly helpful.

It should be remembered that the visit had the specific context of the World Meeting of Families, so it was hardly surprising that he addressed issues relevant to the family today, such as  during his address in Croke Park where he clearly addressed families in ways consistent with the theme of the World Meeting,  The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World” and  his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia issued in 2016. Not surprisingly the media highlighted his admonition to families to communicate and for example not to be distracted by their mobile phones while at meals. There was less attention paid to his exhortation to his remarks on infant baptism:

Today in Dublin we are gathered for a family celebration of thanksgiving to God for who we are: one family in Christ, spread throughout the world. The Church is the family of God’s children. A family in which we rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and weep with those who grieve or feel knocked down by life. A family in which we care for everyone, for God our Father has made all of us his children in Baptism. That is one reason why I keep encouraging parents to baptize their children as soon as possible, so that they can become part of this great family of God. We need to invite everyone to the party!

He went on to speak of the joy we should have in our faith:

God wants every family to be a beacon of the joy of his love in our world. What does this mean? It means that we, who have encountered God’s saving love, try, with or without words, to express it in little acts of kindness in our daily routine and in the most hidden moments of our day.

And, of course, he touched on the theme he has often spoken and written about – forgiveness:

It is true that I like to say that in our families we need to learn three words: “sorry”, “please” and “thank you”. When you quarrel at home, be sure that before going to bed you apologize and say you are sorry. Even if the argument tempts you to sleep in another room, alone and apart, just knock on the door and say: “Please, can I come in?” All it takes is a look, a kiss, a soft word… and everything is back to the way it was! I say this because when families do this, they survive. There is no such thing as a perfect family; without the practice of forgiveness, families can grow sick and gradually collapse.

Indeed, as I attempt to write this piece, I realise I could quote the whole address from Croke Park, including his several references to remarks made by the people who gave testimonies during the concert, but the whole text can be found on the Vatican’s website.

And then there was the Phoenix Park!

Not surprisingly the Pope’s dramatic and unscheduled Penitential Act attracted the most attention, but his homily was also hugely significant and contained several nuggets. He used the Gospel of the day from Chapter 6 of St John. We know the scene: Jesus has recently fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes but then he foretells the Eucharist and the necessity to eat his body and drink his blood – a hard saying – and many leave him. He asks the twelve if they too want to go and Peter says “Lord to whom should we go? You have the message of eternal life.”

Pope Francis applied these words to our situation in the modern world:

Yet it is precisely at those times that the Lord asks us: “What about you, do you want to go away too?” (Jn 6:67).  With the strength of the Spirit to “encourage” us and with the Lord always at our side, we can answer: “We believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God” (v. 69).  With the people of Israel, we can repeat: “We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God” (Jos 24:18).

He reminded us too of Ireland’s rich missionary history, citing the example of St. Columbanus (543-615 AD) and his companions (who) “brought the light of the Gospel to the lands of Europe in an age of darkness and cultural dissolution” and went on to encourage us with the words:

Of course, there will always be people who resist the Good News, who “murmur” at its “hard words”.  Yet like Saint Columbanus and his companions, who faced icy waters and stormy seas to follow Jesus, may we never be swayed or discouraged by the icy stare of indifference or the stormy winds of hostility.

In parting, he asked us to

… renew our fidelity to the Lord and to the vocation he has given to each of us.  Taking up the prayer of Saint Patrick, let each of us repeat with joy: “Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me” [repeated in Irish].  With the joy and strength given by the Holy Spirit, let us say to him with confidence: “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).

When I look back in times to come on the wonderful visit of Pope Francis to Ireland, I hope it is these and other words of his that will be foremost in the memory, rather than the utter negativity that we endured from the media, the rotten weather on the Sunday, the miles we had to walk etc. Of course we’ll also remember with joy the many other stand out moments  – at Knock, Sean McDermott Street, the Pro Cathedral and the thousands lining the streets of Dublin on the Saturday afternoon. We’ll also remember with joy and gratitude the thousands of volunteers who gave so willingly of themselves, and helped make the days of the World Meeting and the Papal Visit days we will remember forever.