Celebrating the Good Shepherd and an Appeal to Serve Those in the Peripheries

A Shepherd to the End: Remembering Pope Francis

 

“I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Jn 10:11-18

How profound was the Gospel reading for Monday evening when priests, deacons, religious, and laypeople gathered for a Mass for the Holy Father in the Cathedral, along with the many who joined online. I found myself deeply moved, reflecting on the life and death of Pope Francis. His life was full of surprises, and even his passing came as a shock. He had just greeted crowds in St. Peter’s Square the day prior on Easter Sunday. Though he had been ill, his brief appearance gave no hint that it would be his final farewell. But God knew. 

During these days of mourning, I realize our grief is a grief of immense gratitude. We remember, give thanks, pray for Pope Francis, and pray for the Church he loved so deeply. I’ve been praying not only for the Holy Father, but also for the Church, for our journey ahead, and for his successor who must now lead us.

I was particularly moved, remembering a moment from Saturday before Palm Sunday, on April 1, 2021, after he was discharged from the hospital. Instead of rushing home, Pope Francis paused to bless a young boy with a broken arm and to comfort grieving parents who had just lost their five-year-old daughter. His silent embrace spoke louder than any words ever could, but he sought to provide comfort, to share their pain, and to let them know they were not alone in their grief. He truly embodied the Good Shepherd, laying down his life for his sheep. For Pope Francis, providing hope for those suffering came before his needs. We witnessed this countless times throughout his Papacy, where he would go out into the periphery.

Pope Francis gave hope to so many, especially the young. I’ve heard countless stories — even from those who are not Catholic — about how he touched hearts through his humility, simplicity, and love. As one Cardinal beautifully said, “Pope Francis made the Church more human without making it less sacred.” That is something we should never forget.

When I last visited Rome in 2019, I stayed at Casa Santa Marta, the humble residence Pope Francis chose instead of the Apostolic Palace. His choice reflected a deep desire to live simply and remain close to people. I remember seeing him praying in the chapel each evening, deeply immersed in prayer. I even once found myself bumped from a room because the Holy Father needed it — an amusing moment that reminded me how naturally he blended authority with humility!

Pope Francis’ ministry was marked by joy, as captured in his encyclical The Joy of the Gospel, and his belief that Christian life should be rooted in joy and even humor. He invited the world to encounter God’s boundless compassion during the Year of Mercy and emphasized synodality — walking together, listening to one another — leaving us a Church that journeys together as a family. Now in the Jubilee Year of Hope, we remember his message that “hope does not disappoint,” and honor his legacy as a humble, faithful servant who never ceased to inspire through word and witness.

From the moment he first appeared on the balcony 12 years ago, asking for prayers and proclaiming that he, too, is a sinner, to his final Easter blessing, he showed us what it means to be a faithful, humble servant of God.

Pope Francis was the true Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep, always staying close to the people, sharing their joys and sorrows. May he continue to teach us and pray for us from heaven.

Serve Those in the Peripheries: Support the Catholic Appeal!

As a Diocese—and as a global Church— we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, Christ’s humble servant. At the same time, we’re set to launch tomorrow on May 1,  “Hope Lights the Way,’ the 2025 Catholic Appeal. There is no better moment to honor his legacy here in our Diocese. In the coming weeks, I will share more about the profound impact of the Appeal throughout southeastern Massachusetts but today we are reminded that it is through the Catholic Appeal that we live out the very mission Pope Francis championed: to serve the least among us with love and mercy. For 85 years, the Catholic Appeal has supported the many agencies, programs, and ministries that feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, educate children and adults, and care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of thousands across our Diocese. Through your support of the Appeal, you extend that hope, answering the call Pope Francis placed before each of us.

Sincerely,

+Bishop da Cunha