Members of the diocesan community filled Sacred Heart Church in Evansville Monday night for a Memorial Mass for Pope Francis.
Bishop Siegel celebrated the Mass April 28, seven days after Pope Francis’ death. Nine diocesan priests concelebrated the Mass. Transitional Deacon Nick Biever and Deacon Dan Niemeier assisted during the Mass.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel said it was hard to believe it was just a week prior to the Memorial Mass that we awoke with the surprising news of the passing of Pope Francis, who was 88 years old. While we knew the pope was in frail health, the pope’s death seemed sudden, he said.
Bishop Siegel said that if our first reaction when hearing of Pope Francis’ death was sadness, he thinks our second reaction was gratitude. For just over 12 years, Pope Francis led the church with courage and love and challenged the church not to be inward looking but to always be on a mission, intent on serving the gospel, he said. Bishop Siegel noted just as Peter led the 11 apostles in proclaiming the gospel in the first reading in the Acts of the Apostles, so too Pope Francis, as Peter’s successor, led the world bishops in proclaiming the gospel as well.
A hallmark of Pope Francis’ papacy was his emphasis on the mercy of God, Bishop Siegel said. Early in his pontificate, Pope Francis decreed a special Holy Year of Mercy. Bishop Siegel said Pope Francis insisted the church is not only to teach mercy but to act on it, to embrace those on the peripheries and to bring the light of Christ to the darkest corners of society. Pope Francis preached and lived the corporal works of mercy described in our gospel readings, Bishop Siegel said. He added that one of the best ways for us to honor Pope Francis’ memory is to rededicate ourselves to continuing to serve the poor and marginalized in our communities. We are the ones to be a beacon of truth and hope and the field hospital for the wounded, Bishop Siegel said.
Bishop Siegel said Pope Francis left us as a pilgrim of hope, just as we began this Easter season. And even as we pray for the soul of our Holy Father during the nine days of mourning, Bishop Siegel said may he pray for us, that we may proclaim with similar conviction the hope of the gospel in every community in our diocese. Bishop Siegel said we commend Pope Francis to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, that her risen Son may grant him a merciful judgment, forgiveness of his sins and a place with all the angels and saints in his Father’s Kingdom.