Quote of the Day (Pope Francis, Urging the World ‘To Revive Our Trust in Others’)

“What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of our world! How much violence we see, often even within families, directed at women and children! How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!

“On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!”— Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis (1936-2025), “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) Message of His Holiness Pope Francis (Easter 2025), read in St. Peter’s Square, Apr. 20, 2025

Like Dr. Martin Luther King in his “Mountaintop” address before his assassination, Pope Francis was acutely aware that, even if his Easter message did not constitute his very last words to those who had come to listen intently to him, his time left on Earth would be short.

While too physically weak to read the message himself, Francis breathed a confidence that death was only a transition before his union—and ours—with God.

But moreover, the Resurrection meant, as he noted, that, though the evil in the world would remain to the end, “it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.”

Surely, he knew that many of “those in positions of political responsibility in our world” would pay little heed to his admonition “not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others.” (Indeed, the most prominent of those leaders was pursuing policies that would accomplish just that.) But he hoped to inspire citizens worldwide to move their leaders in that direction, or at least select those who would.

In his column yesterday, David French of The New York Times wrote about two kinds of churches: “Fear the World” and “Love Your Neighbor.” Against the most intense internal and external opposition (including conservative American bishops), Francis moved Roman Catholicism toward the latter—less dogmatic, more inclusive and pastoral.

He left the Church, and the world, better for having lived in it. Too bad we all can’t claim the same thing. His work is finished; ours continues.

(For a fine consideration of Francis’ magisterial teachings, see Michael Sean Winters’ article in today’s National Catholic Reporter.)