On the morning of April 21, Pope Francis died. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo — the chamberlain or acting head of the Vatican in the interim period between the death or resignation of one pope and the inauguration of the next — made the announcement to the world:
Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, The Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his church. He taught us to live the values of the gospel with faithfulness, courage and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of God, One and Triune.
Robert Sellers
The 88-year-old pontiff’s official cause of death was a stroke and irreparable heart damage. But while his physical body was severely compromised by double pneumonia and his long hospital struggle, the emotional and spiritual health of this saint and “Pope of the People” was strong and enviable. Beloved around the world, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was a man of incredible compassion, whose heart for others was a constant inspiration even to his more conservative, doctrinal detractors.
Jamey Keaten, the chief Associated Press reporter formerly in Paris, now in Geneva, wrote of Francis:
The 266th pope was praised for his groundbreaking steps to honor the poor and the vulnerable; seek to end conflicts like those in the Middle East, Ukraine and Africa; protect the environment; and guide the Catholic Church toward greater tolerance of gays and lesbians, among other things. Some critics say he didn’t always go far enough. Others said he went too far.
One critic who thought the pope’s actions went too far to the left was quick to attack him publicly and thereby attempt to score political points. Newsweek reported, “Just hours after the death of Pope Francis, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia posted on X, formerly Twitter, ‘Today there were major shifts in global leaderships. Evil is being defeated by the hand of God.'”
But Greene couldn’t have been more wrong.
Perhaps she thought she could win favor from her MAGA audience by referencing God and suggesting divine purpose in the death of Pope Francis. Greene must have assumed Georgians would accept her unkind critique of the newly deceased pontiff if she couched it in pseudo-religious language. Pretending to know the mind of God, Greene confidently intimated that she and God define evil in the same way.
Nonetheless, all around the globe church bells tolled, flags were hung at half-staff, hearts were broken and the eyes of millions were upon funeral arrangements in the Vatican for a man who always identified himself as one of the people. Desiring to be close to ordinary Catholics, the day before his passing the frail and ailing pope had insisted on being driven slowly on a path through the thousands who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear what became his very last Easter message. Now he would no longer warmly wave to the faithful, nor tenderly kiss proffered infants or young children, bless the union of hopeful brides and grooms, give words of wisdom to starstruck teenagers, wash the feet of prisoners or affirm the sacrifice of grateful priests, nuns and brothers from so many countries he visited. His voice had been silenced, but not his legacy.
He was the first pope since Pius X (died 1914) not to live in the palatial Apostolic Palace, but rather in a modest suite in the Vatican guesthouse. Instead of being transported in a flag-decorated limousine like a typical head of state, Francis used either a small Renault 4 or Ford Focus for his local travels. He rejected the ornate robes worn by his predecessors, choosing simple white cassocks and comfortable black shoes.
“He was not playing the role of the pope.”
His humility surely must have reminded the masses that Jesus said “the last shall be first and the first shall be last” and “whoever wants to be great must become the servant of all.”
A representative group of world leaders, among many others, recalled the pope’s character:
- “Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain.” — Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula
- Francis “was the first pope to actually use the word ‘gay,’ so even the way he speaks has been a radical transformation.” — Martin Pendergast, secretary of the LGBT Catholics Westminster in London
- Francis was “a beacon of hope” to many desperate and marginalized people worldwide. — Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the U.S.-based group BishopAccountability
- Francis “always used the strongest and clearest expressions in the defense of the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.” — Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- “Pope Francis advanced a world view of inclusion, equality and care for marginalized individuals and groups, as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment.” — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
- “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and love so pure for the less fortunate.” — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Francis “dedicated himself to the service of others, consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life.” — the Dalai Lama
Suffering with others; offering hope to desperate, marginalized people; defending the dignity of every person; encouraging others during times of trial; demonstrating a lifelong commitment to peace, global solidarity and care for the needy; advocating a worldview of inclusion and equality; exhibiting boundless compassion; showing by one’s own actions how to live a simple, meaningful life — these character traits of Pope Francis summarize his personal integrity. These are actions that reveal a man who was good, noble and honorable.
He was not playing the role of the pope, or of a modern Francis-of-Assisi-type Jesuit, or of a saintly grandfather figure. His integrity was genuine and not a pretense.
The Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains that as a virtue term, “integrity” refers to “a quality of a person’s character” and is “also attributed to various parts of a person’s life,” especially a sense of wholeness and a commitment to acting morally.
Jesus spoke of integrity when he said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” To be pure in heart is to be consistent, truthful, sincere, guileless and free from ulterior motives; it is not to be duplicitous, impure, corrupt, sinful or two-faced.
Fifty-three years ago, I was ordained to Christian ministry at Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. My wonderful father — for all the years of his adult life a pastor, orator, scholar and Baptist denominational leader — preached my ordination sermon. His topic was one I never will forget: “The Word Is Integrity.”
Preston Sellers, like Pope Francis, was a man of impeccable integrity. Ever since he issued that challenge to me, I have tried to live with personal integrity, although not always as successfully as I would have liked.
Alan K. Simpson, a Wyoming Republican senator who crossed the aisle to befriend Ted Kennedy, supported gay rights and argued that men should not even have a vote on abortion since it is so personal an issue for women. He died March 14 at the age of 93. Among many memorable opinions Simpson expressed, he said, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. But if you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”
It is my view, based upon the biblical witness, that God honored Pope Francis. Because he was a man with a pure heart, one who had abiding integrity, God never would have judged him to be a source of evil. I believe God judged him graciously and welcomed him into his reward as a “good and faithful servant.” One might even summarize his life by saying his personal character and public actions proved he had integrity and nothing else matters.
God will judge all of us also — including politicians and retired missionary teachers. When we pass into the next life, I wonder how we will be judged. When God looks at our lives, it’s obvious to me that integrity matters.
Rob Sellers is professor of theology and missions emeritus at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon Seminary in Abilene, Texas. He is a past chair of the board of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. He and his wife, Janie, served a quarter century as missionary teachers in Indonesia. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Related articles:
Remembering the ‘People’s Pope’ | Opinion by Steven R. Harmon
A conservative Baptist’s prayerful appreciation for Pope Francis | Opinion by Benjamin Cole
The Latin American pontiff who changed the papal narrative | Opinion by Edmond Davis