Cardinal Leonardo Sandri has described the late Pope Francis as a humble servant that left a legacy of service and lasting vision for the Church of God.
Presiding over the fifth Novemdiales Mass in memory of Pope Francis in Rome, Cardinal Sandri proclaimed that 'Christ is Risen'.
Cardinal Sandri stated that during the Easter period, the Church was between two important moments– the end of Pope Francis' papacy and the start of a new one.
"In just a few days, the Cardinal Protodeacon will once again step out onto the balcony of St Peter’s to announce the name of a new Pope. That role finds its meaning in the Paschal experience of Christ," he said.
Praying Together
In a statement from Vatican Press Office, Cardinal Sandri explained that the Novendiales Mass is not just a time of mourning, but a moment for the Church to come together, to pray, to remember, and to reaffirm its faith in the Resurrection.
He added: "The cardinals gather not only as collaborators of the Pope but also carrying with them the prayers of people from all over the world: from Tonga to Mongolia, from Tehran to Jerusalem, and from places where Christians are a small but faithful presence, such as Morocco and Algeria."
Cardinal Sandri quoted Pope Francis as saying that: "We are called each day to remember and consciously live the truth that to reign is to serve."
He noted that it is with the spirit that Pope Francis lived his papacy–through his actions, his journeys and his constant care–for those on the margins.
Cardinal Sandri hinted that the title 'Servant of the Servants of God,' once used by Pope Gregory the Great, was important for Pope Francis, who continued to remind the Church that at its heart, it must always serve.
From Scripture To Today
Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Cardinal Sandri noted that Peter’s speech at Pentecost was chosen not only because it marked the beginning of the Church but also because it spoke of fulfilment.
He reiterated that just as Pentecost marked a new beginning for the apostles, the Church today prepares for a new chapter.
Cardinal Sandri recited a verse from Prophet Joel, one often quoted by Pope Francis as: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."
He informed that Pope Francis often linked the passage to the importance of connecting generations, adding that there is no future without encounter between old and young.
A Dream For Church
Closing his homily, Cardinal Sandri noted that Pope Francis had already left a vision for the future of the Church.
In the Bull of Indiction for the 2025 Jubilee, he looked ahead to another major anniversary: 2000 years since the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, to be celebrated in 2033.
"This Holy Year will guide the path of Christians… so that spiritually, we may all become pilgrims to the Holy Land, and proclaim once again: ‘The Lord is truly risen and has appeared to Simon," he concluded.
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