Memorial Mass Homily for Pope Francis                                                              April 29, 2025
When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope in 2013, the world was immediately captivated by his charismatic personality, simplicity, sense of closeness, and the fresh and frankly unusual papal vocabulary he often employed.
 
From his first buona sera to his occasional mother-in-law jokes, to his use of symbolic imagery and his shoot-from-the-hip quips, some of which got him into trouble, Pope Francis was a soundbite machine.
 
Thanks to the growth of social media over the past decade, Francis was also the first ‘digital’ pope. He had accounts on most major social networks and quickly gained a reputation for the colorful soundbites he often let fly.
 
Some of his remarks seemed odd or humorous, such as his declaration to a general audience that Christians should be joyful rather than have a face like a “pickled pepper.”
 
Yet of all the quotes Pope Francis has given the Church over the years, some stand out either because they gained publicity or because they are relevant to the overall tone of his papacy.
 
“Don’t forget the poor.”
Moments after the Cardinals had chosen Francis to be the 266th successor of Saint Peter, a friendly voice whispered into his ear, ‘Don’t forget the poor’ – a remark that inspired the new pope to choose the papal name “Francis,” after St. Francis of Assisi.
 
“Make a Mess.”
During his first international trip to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day in July 2013, the new pope from the third world held a special meeting with Argentine youth, telling them to “hacer lío,” which is Argentine slang that roughly translates as “make a mess” or “wreak havoc.”
“I want the Church to go out to the streets,” he said, lamenting high youth unemployment and warning young people to guard themselves against “all worldliness, opposition to progress, from that which is comfortable, from that which is clericalism, from all that means being closed in on oneself.”  
 
“Who am I to judge?”
On his return flight from that Rio trip in 2013, Pope Francis raised eyebrows when, in response to a question on homosexual clergy, he said, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”
This one line is perhaps the most famous of Pope Francis’s soundbites over the years. It came to represent his broader outreach to a community within the Church that did not always find her welcoming, hospitable, and engaging. 
 
“The smell of the sheep.”
Yet another famous papal soundbite that Francis continually recycled throughout his time in office was directed at priests to take on “the smell of the sheep,” being pastors close to their people, rather than administrators governing from a stale, cold office.
This one soundbite neatly sums up Pope Francis’s entire approach to pastoral care and practice. It quickly sets the tone for his expectations of the clergy under his guidance, including the bishops he chose to shepherd local flocks.  
 
“I am a sinner.” 
This is Pope Francis’ first response–after a few moments of reflection–to the softball question ‘Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio? It may be a softball question, but it’s no softball answer,
Cardinal Bergoglio accepted his election to the papacy by saying, "I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
“Don’t forget to pray for me.”
It was probably his most frequent request, and this was nearly the very first request Francis made as pope after stepping onto St. Peter’s central loggia following his election.
After asking those gathered to pray for Benedict XVI and making an appeal for greater global fraternity, he asked the faithful to pray for him. “I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favor. Before the bishop blesses the people, I would ask that you pray to the Lord to bless me, the prayer of the people for their bishop. 

Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven as you did Easter Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God. May you also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope.