10 priests and a bishop reflect on 10 years of Pope Francis
The impact of Pope Francis’ pontificate, which began 10 years ago on March 13, 2013, has reverberated throughout the entire Catholic Church – from a global scale down to the local parishes and religious communities.
In the Archdiocese of Newark, the effects have been many, including how priests shepherd and lead their church and religious communities. To better understand the Holy Father’s influence on the ministry of a priest, Jersey Catholic spoke with local clergy from a variety of backgrounds and asked for their opinion on the papacy and leadership of Pope Francis.
Bishop Elias Lorenzo, O.S.B. – Auxiliary Bishop of Union County
When Pope Francis stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time at the conclusion of the conclave, I was in Rome. Seeing him in a simple white cassock without all the other papal honors impressed upon me that this is a man of simplicity and humility. Then he asked the people to bless him, before he gave his first apostolic blessing. That’s true humility. Following the election, he rode on the bus with other cardinals and then stayed and continues to live at Santa Marta (hotel), not in the apostolic palace. This pope not only preaches humility, he lives it, and this speaks volumes to the hearts of ordinary people.
At that time, I was an ordinary monk and priest living and working at Sant’Anselmo Abbey in Rome. His example sparked an examination in my own heart about the simplicity of my lifestyle and my own authenticity: how can I live more simply? How can I be truly humble? How can I more authentically imitate the Lord Jesus who is meek and humble of heart? This has become a daily examination of conscience for me.
Another aspect of Pope Francis’ 10 years as the successor of St. Peter that speaks powerfully to me is his emphasis on the Gospel of Mercy. He gave the Church the Year of Mercy in 2015 as an extraordinary jubilee year, and that was a great blessing that continues to bear good fruit in the Church and society at large. The manner in which he governs and guides the Church as the vicar of Christ is consistently merciful. In all his official writings, in all his reflections at general audiences and the Sunday Angelus, in all his homilies in Rome and around the world, his proclamation of the Gospel of Mercy in unambiguous. He teaches us that “the name of God is mercy.” To pastors of souls like me, this is an important and powerful invitation faithfully to follow Jesus, meek and humble of heart, who came “to seek and save the lost” (Lk. 19:10). We can only preach or teach a God who is “always slow to anger, rich in mercy and abounding in steadfast love” (Ps. 145:8-9). Pope Francis has changed the way in which the Church engages a complex and challenging world by his simplicity, humility and message of mercy.
Abbot Augustine Curley, O.S.B. – Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Newark
One thing that Pope Francis emphasizes that has stuck with me is that a priest must have the smell of the sheep. There has been a bigger emphasis on pastoral care and the needs of the people.
From my perspective, his papacy hasn’t so much changed what we [the Benedictine monks] have been doing but affirmed it. The greater effect that I have noticed is in the people that we care for – the parishioners and the families; that Pope Francis has drawn many back to the Church. Why? The short answer is this: it’s his ability to keep things doctrinal and a willingness to say, “Let’s look at it.” People feel that they can ask questions.
Father Esterminio Chica – Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows and Christ the King (Jersey City)
I would say that the Pope is very joyful. He hasn’t lost his smile, his sense of humor, the sense of who he is, where he came from. He’s a very down-to-earth priest and pope. He shows that regardless of how many responsibilities we have, we should approach the whole thing in a relaxed manner, with a smile, knowing God is with us.
Pope Francis has challenged me to get close to people that are marginalized. He kissed the feet of serial killers in prisons, he kissed the feet of people with leprosy that I would have a hard time getting close to. He has influenced my way of navigating my ministry, my life, my approach to people – how he always shortens the distance between people.
I remember a close experience I had was when Pope Francis canonized Bishop [Óscar] Romero and he wore the cincture that Romero wore when he was killed. He’s trying to see every situation from a compassionate perspective – he has made that clear to me as a priest.
Father Jim Worth – Pastor of St. Joseph (Maplewood)
Like Jesus, who brought flesh to God here on earth, Pope Francis has brought the presence of Jesus in a real and deeply personal way to our modern world. When he mentioned that priests need to smell of their sheep, I knew we had a true shepherd in our midst.
His desire to draw everyone together with a common bond of love has greatly revitalized my ministry and that of thousands of others. His humility and simple way of life is a breath of fresh air. He is truly walking the walk, not just talking the talk. For this and countless other reasons, I believe him to be what the Church today so desperately needs.
Father Joseph Costantino, S.J. – Superior of Saint Peter’s Jesuit Community (Jersey City)
From the day Pope Francis first stood on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after being elected by his fellow Cardinals as our Supreme Pontiff, I was astonished and overwhelmed. Not only was this a Jesuit, a member of my own religious community, but he asked for the blessing of the people before offering his own. Just 15 days later, on Holy Thursday, he washed the feet of 12 young inmates that included two women and two Muslims. Then that same day, during the Chrism Mass, he called priests to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.” Also, later that year he published an apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). This letter, along with his other words and deeds, was quite challenging, especially for priests. He was continually calling us, not simply to wait in Church all worried about only “churchy” things, but to find new ways to go out in all humility among the people, especially the poor, the marginalized, and the often excluded of this world with a welcoming embrace.
After this first year, there were still many more challenges to come. Let me mention just two: his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Sí: On Care For Our Common Home and his calling us to become a Synodal Church. These invite priests to help shepherd all God’s holy people to focus on listening to both the cries of the earth and its people. Pope Francis has therefore set out a mission for priests, as well as all of us, that can seem daunting. For me, his mission is the measure by which I have become more keenly aware of my own sinfulness and failure to fully live up to the call of Christ today, as articulated by our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Yet, Pope Francis also reminds us to live humbly in the joy of our truth – we are loved sinners. Thank you, Pope Francis. Ad multos annos!
Father Larry Evans, V.F. – Pastor of St. Rose of Lima (Short Hills)
Pope Francis has challenged each priest to see Christ in those with whom he ministers. He has modeled for us how we should find joy in walking with the marginalized and the outcast. We, as priests, must be willing to let go of our own pride and desires for earthly power in order to find the richness of humility and the gratitude of the poor.
So often, the Pope has been like a brave salmon swimming upstream to get home. As priests, we must be willing to face the challenges and temptations the world has to offer to not only get ourselves home but to bring our brothers and sisters with us.
Father Martin Schratz, O.F.M. Cap. – Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi (Hackensack)
What a wonderful surprise it was to hear that our new pope would be called FRANCIS. As a group of Capuchin Franciscan friars, we gathered in the living room waiting to see who had been elected. What joy when hearing the name Francis. But also, for us, what a challenge. As recognition was given to our founder, St. Francis of Assisi, I believe it also challenged us to look at our life, now in the limelight because of Pope Francis. Where was he going with this name and how are we to respond? From the onset, our Holy Father showed the world that it isn’t all about theology, but about living the gospel in the footsteps of St. Francis. Here was a pope not afraid to get involved in the life of people, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the alienated. His actions encouraged us to follow and do so with joy.
As a priest in the church today, we are running a “field hospital” for those who come looking for God, seeking healing and peace, encouragement, and direction. Today I find that I am more aware of these needs of God’s people and invited to minister to them with the example I see in Pope Francis and St. Francis. And it isn’t just about God’s people, but God’s world, the environment within which we live. We are called to be good stewards to God’s creation, all that he has made and that includes the people of God. Making ourselves more present for the sacrament of Reconciliation, healing, and grace for those who come looking for that peace. I am called to feed His people, yes with food and supplies, but with words of encouragement and hope.
While I always had St. Francis as a model, now Pope Francis becomes a living model as he puts into practice the living Gospel for all to see. Pope Francis has opened my ears and my heart to be present to those who are lost, broken and scared. Pope Francis has for me embodied what it means to be a priest, a shepherd, a man of faith. What an incredible example he is for our world seeking joy and hope.
Father Mauro Primavera – Pastor of St. John the Apostle (Linden)
Pope Francis has impacted my ministry as a priest and pastor in an exceptional way when he says that the priest should smell like the sheep. In fact, I made it my priority to be visiting every one of my parishioners at their home and know them by name, in the same way as the shepherd knows his sheep.
The Pope has also impacted my ministry when he emphasizes the importance of Evangelization, as part of a Church who “goes out” and “searches out” the people.
Msgr. Paul Bochicchio – Priest-in-residence at St. Francis of Assisi (Hoboken)
Personally, I am dismayed by some of the criticisms I have encountered regarding the Pontificate of Pope Francis. I believe that the Holy Father, who is grounded in adherence to Church teaching and dogma, is raising questions that are pastorally valid. His call to “accompany people,” his approach of “meeting people” where they are, his image of the Church as a “field hospital” reflect for me the realistic picture of the pastoral approach that many of us as priests have in our dealings with the people we serve.
I don’t agree with every decision he makes – that is true of my evaluation of other popes – but the Holy Father is, in many ways in his approach, reflecting the approach of Jesus.
Father Ranees Rayappan, S.M.A. – Provincial Superior of the Society of African Missions (Tenafly)
Since I am involved in missio ad extra and come from the world south of the equator myself, I continually pay attention to Pope Francis’ bringing to the awareness of the Church all the countries where we currently work in Africa. His recent trip to Southern Sudan, as well as his visit to the war-torn Central African Republic where he offered the priests and people so much encouragement, quickly come to mind. These are good to point out because it demonstrates how the Pope highlights the plight of the poor and war-torn in developing nations of the world and the responsibility we hold to offer them the unwavering hope of Christ Jesus. His focus on the Church in Amazonia, by means of a synod, is another good example of his focus on our world Church, showing how the gospel transcends all nations while at the same time respecting the cultures of a people.
Pope Francis has addressed bishops, priests, and seminarians time and again to remind them that the Church is international, and we must move with the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be close to God and the people we serve. He knows that we cannot live in the past and encourages us priests to see and understand the rapid changes of the world in a trusting acceptance of reality, anchored in the wise and living Tradition of the Church, which enables us to ‘put out into the deep’ without fear.
Traditionally priests from the U.S. worked in Africa. Now, priests from Africa work in the U.S., and in many cases, their new parishioners are some of the same people they ministered to in their home country. Through Pope Francis’ constant teachings and reminders, we in the U.S. can no longer react to world events with indifference, but rather accept the rapid changes of the face of ministry both overseas and locally.
Msgr. Thomas Nydegger – Pastor of St. Helen (Westfield)
I believe Pope Francis’ pontificate has energized the ministry of a priest in two rather significant ways. First, with his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, he has pushed joy to the forefront of priestly life and pastoral care. While meant for everyone, priests can take from the Pope, in a specific way, how they need to approach their call and their ministry. If all are going to find the joy of the Gospel and allow it to transform their lives, the priest will need to experience, live and bear witness to that joy in their lives and their ministry. I believe Pope Francis has given the priest reasons to find that joy, despite the challenges, struggles, and setbacks we face in our current time.
Part and parcel of the joy of the Gospel is the second significant impact on the ministry of a priest and approach to pastoral care: the consciousness and exercise of being “sent out.” Pope Francis said, “Whenever Jesus calls men and women, he always does so in order to send them out, in particular to the vulnerable and those on the margins of society, whom we are not only called to serve but from whom we can also learn much.” The Pope’s encouragement has always been for the priest sent out to be loving, supportive, compassionate, merciful, and thereby reflecting the closeness and tenderness of God.
This article was updated to include the reflection of Bishop Elias Lorenzo, O.S.B.
Alexandra Rojas contributed to this article.
