As we continue to mourn the death of Pope Francis, and pray for the repose of his soul, you have no doubt noticed the constant stream of articles, videos, reels, commentary, explainers, speculation…that has begun to populate the media. It will only increase as we approach the beginning of the Conclave on May 7. While it is good to stay informed, it is also good to remember that the Holy Spirit is the one who is in charge of the Church.
The Holy Spirit is the one guiding the Church through the rituals and procedures that the Cardinals will follow in these days. The Holy Spirit is the one moving in the Church through the prayers of all the faithful for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. And the Holy Spirit is the one who is already stirring in each of our hearts, in the hearts of the Cardinals who will gather in Conclave, and in the heart of the one who will be elected as the next Pope.
So as you watch the flood of papal media coverage in the next days and weeks, here are a few “habits of the heart” to cultivate:
First, be discerning about what articles you choose to read or what videos you choose to watch. Again, staying informed is good; getting worked up into a frenzy of worry about what will happen next is not. Find a source that you trust and use it to stay informed, but don’t feel that you need to keep up on absolutely every opinion or rumor. Use your time to pray instead.
Second, be reflective. This time is a precious invitation to pray and reflect on what these events mean for you. What is going on in your own mind and heart? What is this moment teaching you about the Church and your own place in it? How do you desire to live this time? How can you build up the Church at this moment?
Third, be a person of trust. In your prayer, ask for the grace to grow in trust— trust in the Holy Spirit’s movement in the Church, and trust in God’s movement in your own life as well. In the Preface of the Apostles, the Church prays: “For you, eternal Shepherd, do not desert your flock but through the blessed Apostles watch over it and protect it always, so that it may be governed by those you have appointed shepherds to lead it in the name of your Son” (Preface of the Apostles I). There is no better place to put our trust than in the hands and heart of the One who never deserts his flock.
While it is true that this time in between the papacy of Pope Francis and that of his successor is challenging, it is also highly blessed. It is highly blessed because, if we really enter into it, it will move us toward God and toward one another. As a Church, we are acutely aware in this time that God has not and never will abandon us. As a Church, we are in a moment of attentive listening to the Holy Spirit. And as a Church, we are making an act of faith “that no tempests may disturb us, for you have set us fast on the rock of the Apostle Peter’s confession of faith” (Collect of the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter).
This was the faith of Saint Peter, and the faith of Pope Francis, that no matter the “tempests” that surround us, we can be at peace because of the presence of the risen Lord. This peace, given by Jesus “not as the world gives” (Jn 14:27), is not only the confirmation of his presence with us, but also our daily radical proclamation to the world: “Peace be with you.”
Amen.
Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay