Pope Francis a Model of Simplicity

by Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.  |  04/27/2025  |  Weekly Reflection

Beloved Parishioners,

As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday today, which was instituted by John Paul II, I would like to share a reflection on Pope Francis the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church who passed onto the Lord on Easter Monday by Roman Time 7:35am at the age of 88. He comes across to many people as a great shepherd of the flock, a reformer, a pastor of souls, and to some as a controversial Pope.

Pope Francis for me is the epitome of simplicity who goes out in search of those in the margins of the society, the poor and the abandoned. He is a Pope of mercy and compassion, and it did not take long for him to let the world know that he has come with a message of simplicity just as the son of a carpenter, Jesus. I was present in Rome on that very day he was elected on March 13, 2013. I could still recall how he had asked the people to pray for him when he came out before the large crowd gathered in St. Peter’s square and he bowed down in silent prayer. At the end he led us in the three simple prayers of Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father. I was personally touched when he asked for prayer and bent down in silence before giving us the final blessing. His gesture is that of man who from the very beginning wants to be a pope after the heart of Jesus in simplicity and care for the poor. He was the first pope in history to go by the name Francis after the example of Francis of Assisi.

Hence, from that moment he expressed to the world that he has a mission to be a simple shepherd with a heart of mercy. There are many remarkable things he did that really described his personality as a pastor with a simple heart for the flock. First, is his choice of the name, Francis, which is testimony of the direction he wants the church to go. He chose to ride with the other cardinals after the election in their van instead of riding on his special popemobile designated for him. He lived in a simple Domus Sanctae Marthae rather than the Apostolic Palace meant for the pope. On his numerous trips he prefers to carry his own bag and travelled in a simple car. I was moved to tears when I saw Pope Francis bend down on his knees and kiss the feet of the waring leaders in South Sudan when he invited them for a peaceful dialogue in Vatican.

He was an apostle of Mercy and in the Jubilee year of Mercy he said that the face of God is Mercy. He showed that mercy to many as he would celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass with prisoners where he washed their feet including Muslims and Hindus. He says that pastors should smell like sheep whom they pastor and not live above them.

Pope Francis teaches us that the church should listen to her members and what the people in the pews are saying. The new way of being a church is the church of synodality. As I share this reflection, I pray God to grant him a place among his Saints and to me and many who had witnessed his life to embrace the life of simplicity and humility. As we continue our prayer during this period our hope is that God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will choose for the Church a new pontiff who will lead the church of God after the heart of Jesus who came to call sinners and the abandoned.