At memorial Mass, members of religious orders remember Pope Francis

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Along with members of the College of Cardinals, women and men belonging to religious orders paid tribute to Pope Francis, a Jesuit, and thanked God for his life and ministry.

Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who was pro-prefect of the dicastery that assists religious orders, was the main celebrant at the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica May 3, the eighth day of the “novendiali” — the nine days of official mourning and Masses for the late pope

After the entrance procession, Sister Mary T. Barron, superior of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles and president of the International Union of Superiors General, spoke about Pope Francis’ support for and trust in women religious.

“His pontificate was a light for all of us,” she said. “He shined brightly, reminding us of the Gospel call to go out into the world, among the people and in the midst of all God created, to serve, heal and accompany those most in need.”

“Celebrating this Eucharist in his memory, we give thanks for his pastor’s heart, for his vision and for the deep trust he placed in consecrated women,” she said. “We promise to carry forward the mission he entrusted us with to be the caress of our loving creator God, especially for those who suffer, to be the fire that lights other fires and to live our lives for the Lord, for humanity and for all of God’s creation.”

Camaldolese Father Mario Zanotti, and secretary-general of the men’s Union of Superiors General, spoke after Sister Barron. “Francis was a pope who was close to us, listened to us and sometimes, with strong words, even shook us out of our certainties and some of our habits that were clothed in religiosity.”

“In a time of uncertainty and fragility,” he said, “Francis invited us strongly and with contagious enthusiasm to confidently bring God to the men and women of our time so they could experience his mercy through closeness, listening, learning the language of the other and sharing their sufferings and their joys.”

Consolata Missionary Sister Simona Brambilla, prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life under Pope Francis, read the first reading at the Mass. And women and men belonging to religious orders read the prayers of the faithful. Jesuit Father Cristóbal Fones, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, sang a post-Communion hymn in Spanish.

The main concelebrants at the altar were Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, former prefect of the dicastery, and Father Arturo Sosa, superior general of the Jesuits.

In his homily, Cardinal Fernández Artime, a 64-year-old Spaniard who was head of the worldwide Salesian order when Pope Francis made him a cardinal in 2023, said that Pope Francis “knew he was very well-liked by God’s people and he knew that the members of different forms of consecrated life loved him, prayed for his ministry and for him personally, for the church and for the world.”

Every baptized person is called to be a witness of the risen Christ, the cardinal said, but “we consecrated men and women have received this vocation, this call to discipleship that asks us to witness to the primacy of God with our whole lives.”

“This mission is particularly important when, like today in many parts of the world, people experience the absence of God or too easily forget his centrality,” the cardinal said.

Pope Francis asked consecrated men and women “to be the sentinels who watch during the night and know when the dawn is coming,” he said. “He asked us to have a heart and spirit pure enough and free enough to recognize the women and men of today as our sisters and brothers, especially those who are poorest, the last, the discarded.”