LCiGB Bishops Remember Pope Francis
- LCiGB
- Apr 29, 2025
- 4 min read
The Bishops of the LCiGB remember Pope Francis
Walter:
"First of all, my thoughts are around Pope Francis’ devotion to Jesus. Secondly, his involvement in ecumenical movement, which of course doesn’t go without the first one.
His visit to Lund, Sweden, to celebrate with Lutherans around the world, 500th anniversary of Reformation, was extraordinary! The Pope insisted on taking part in Lutheran service in Lund cathedral on the 31st October 2017, even though his co-workers in Vatican were not too keen on this idea.
What also impressed me, that the Pope did, was to show in practice, not in words only, that basic human task is to serve the poor in society, be it in rich and poor countries in the world. This is from me as a retired Bishop, but also as a retired social worker, I sought to follow Francis’ same awareness to issues regarding refugees, the sick and homeless not only Christians but all religions and none.
And my last thought is that he was really and truly humble, choosing to live with others in a small apartment and not papal palatial place. And, for some no great deal, he travelled not in a limousines but basic Fiat 500 or on public transport (to the worries of his bodyguards).
For him all people and all creatures are God’s creation and as such, are dear to Him, so much that He “become flesh and lived among us”.
-Bishop Emeritus Walter Jagucki
Jana
"When Pope Francis was elected, I heard the news together with ecumenical colleagues in a Franciscan priory in Leicester after giving a talk at the University (and everyone, including the Franciscans, said “Who is Jorge Maria Bergoglio?”). Well, now we know who he was, and I will always remember Indra (my daughter) coming in with the sad but not unexpected news on the morning of Easter Monday.
De mortuis nihil nisi bonum (Of the dead, say nothing but good), of course: but clearly Pope Francis found a place in people’s hearts way beyond the confines of the Roman Catholic Church. His support in words and deeds of poor, marginalised, excluded people – migrants, prisoners, the homeless and rootless – touched many around the world. His
challenges even in the last weeks to the despotic Trump regime were clear and uncompromising. And his writings, particularly Laudato Si’ (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html) and Evangelii Gaudium (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html) were inspired and inspirational. As Lutherans we remember the warmth and openness of the events that surrounded the marking in Lund of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.
Death is inevitable for each of us; but the death of Pope Francis leaves the world a poorer place, and I mourn his passing, even as we all realise that this was a release from sickness and pain.
And I will always remember sharing the Peace with him here, in the Lutheran Cathedral in Rīga."
-Bishop Emerita Jāna Jēruma Grīnberga
Martin
"I travelled to Rome in 2016, just after my wife’s death. One of my children wanted me to come with her and family. It was their way to help me through my deep sorrow. And I managed to arrange a meeting with Pope Francis, which we will never forget.
Most important for me however was that he was a Pope with an immediate love for human beings, especially the poor, the neglected, and the despised. He was a real example in this regard."
-Bishop Emeritus Martin Lind
Tor
"I give thanks to God for the years Pope Francis was able to challenge us all to focus on the poor and underprivileged in our world today. My prayer is that all the world-leaders who now praise his life and legacy also could transform this into practical initiatives for peace, justice and humility. The world is crying for that. I hear the cry every day from a small group of “illegal” refugees now being forced out of Norway!"
-Bishop Emeritus Tor B Jørgensen
Paulina
"We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time, important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. – Pope Francis
These words have been used by Pope Francis on several occasions, from Covid Pandemic in his visits in Lampedusa and Lesbos where refugees travelled in desperation to get to a safer world.
I thank Pope Francis for being vocal on migration matters and for not being afraid to tell the politicians and world’s leaders that before they are numbers, refugees are first and foremost human beings.
Thank you for reminding us again and again that we all are God’s creation and that if we do not believe this and humble ourselves to fully understanding of it, we will not be able to make the world a better place."
-Presiding Bishop Paulina Hławiczka – Trotman
Comments