RIP Pope Francis

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Pope Francis has died, Vatican says

https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-francis-has-died-vatican-says-video-statement-2025-04-21/

[tower912]

A life well lived.  A good man.

[Uncle Rico]

One of his last acts was dunking on a hillbilly heretic.  Solid.

[tower912]

I have about a dozen of those rolling through my brain.  But for now I will mourn.

[21Jumpstreet]

Headed to Rome in a few weeks, and while I'm disappointed that we likely won't see some of the sites, it will be quite an experience if the new pope is elected while we are there. I'm not Catholic, but I do respect Francis, his Jesuit-ness, and his seeming desire to be more inclusive, tolerant, and compassionate.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

My wife and daughter just returned from a HS student trip to Italy on Saturday.  My wife was group leader and my daughter a chaperone.  They visited the Vatican on Monday.  St. Peter's Square was closed for Holy Week.  They did get to visit the Basilica and the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

[jesmu84]

Shaka needs to put on the full court press for recruits before the Jesuits lose power.

[GB Warrior]

One of his last acts was dunking on a hillbilly heretic.  Solid.

The Last Snubber

[dgies9156]

Pope Francis was an incredible leader and one who lived by example.

One of my favorite stories about the Pope had to do with a 20-something woman who worked for me a few years back. She was smart, full of life and attractive. She was in my office one day when she blurted out that she was becoming Catholic.

I'm not one who wears his faith on his sleeve but I'm also willing to speak about it, if you want. So I asked her, "why? What is it that made you become Catholic. After all, you're not our usual convert demographic."

She looked at me and said, "Pope Francis." She told me she was moved by him, by the type of person he was and what he stood for. It was the first time I realized the hold he had over millions of people, Catholic and otherwise.

I didn't always agree with Pope Francis on temporal issues, but I understood that he took the callings we all have in the Gospels literally. I feel the same loss I did when Joseph Cardinal Bernadin, the late Archbishop of Chicago, died decades ago.

Pope Francis was a kind, decent man and I trust whomever becomes our next Pope has many of the same characteristics.   

[muwarrior69]

Francis entered the portal.

[tower912]

Him becoming pope probably kept me in the Catholic church.  His reminders that we are to love each other, serve each other, forgive each other, and try to get through this together was an affirmation I desperately needed.  And still do. 
 

[GB Warrior]

I'm not religious but he is a remarkable man who has changed the church for the positive in a way that best resembles humanity and its potential for growth and redemption. I hope only that the cardinals agree and continue his work

[Billy Hoyle]

Him becoming pope probably kept me in the Catholic church.  His reminders that we are to love each other, serve each other, forgive each other, and try to get through this together was an affirmation I desperately needed.  And still do. 
 

Pope Francis sparked a resurgence in my wife's faith (she is Catholic, I am not). Her father was on the path to becoming a Jesuit priest when he met his future wife, so Jesuit values were instilled in her early on in life and continue to this day.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Him becoming pope probably kept me in the Catholic church.  His reminders that we are to love each other, serve each other, forgive each other, and try to get through this together was an affirmation I desperately needed.  And still do. 
 

I'm kind of in the same boat. Once Pope Francis was selected I committed to attending more Masses and increasing my financial commitment. Glad I did. Our parish went from a dour pastor (he turned every homily into a pro-life lecture, turning both my daughter and wife away from the church) to a younger uplifting positive pastor who kept me coming back. (He has since risen in our diocese.) Pope Francis was a most excellent choice at the time and I pray the next Pope continues his mission. RIP and thank you for your service.

[wadesworld]

RIP.  He was a good man who will be hard to replace.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

RIP to a great Pope. A man who truly lived the Gospel's message.

[GB Warrior]

Holy sh!t first the pope and now Joe Lieberman?!

[dgies9156]

When I read what other Scoopers have said and combine these with the experience around me, I realize Pope Francis did his job -- Evangelize. He made believers out of non-believers and strengthened the faith of believers.

Pope Francis didn't evangelize with fire and brimstone. He didn't separate us into "saved" and "condemned for all eternity." As best I can tell, there aint anything coming out of the closet about his failings. Rather, Francis evangelized with love and with caring.

If that's not what a Pope is called to do, then we have a really strange view of leadership in our church.

[GB Warrior]

https://x.com/jdvance/status/1914239114406191255?s=46

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

https://x.com/jdvance/status/1914239114406191255?s=46

I'm guessing he'll remember the visit after what's being reported as being read the riot act first by Francis' Deputy then Francis himself.

[JWags85]

When I read what other Scoopers have said and combine these with the experience around me, I realize Pope Francis did his job -- Evangelize. He made believers out of non-believers and strengthened the faith of believers.

Pope Francis didn't evangelize with fire and brimstone. He didn't separate us into "saved" and "condemned for all eternity." As best I can tell, there aint anything coming out of the closet about his failings. Rather, Francis evangelized with love and with caring.

If that's not what a Pope is called to do, then we have a really strange view of leadership in our church.

I'm not a Catholic and have long had personal issues with the idea of the pope and the, to me, uncomfortable veneration of the position by some Catholics, the kissing of the rings, the thought of someone, not as a messenger, but as actually closer to God, etc...

However, despite that and, like you mentioned, disagreeing with him on some temporal matters, I really respected his tenure and his papacy for being forward thinking and modern.  Very much needed from a position where everything about the Vatican and its leadership had seemed to revolve around stodgy dour old men to that point.

I also remember reading an anecdote from an interview where it came up that he once fell asleep during prayer and wondering if that was inappropriate, and Pope Francis said something to the effect of a father loves when his children fall asleep in his arms...and I thought that was incredibly poignant and beautiful, regardless of your specific faith or affiliation.

[pbiflyer]

https://x.com/MattGrossenbach/status/1914687407955357755

[MU82]

Buzz's dream job.

[tower912]

Just like I thought  he should apply for the MU president gig, I vote for Sultan.

[JWags85]

Buzz's dream job.

Nah, I hear the Vatican has crap sweet tea, he's out.