Welcome to epsiode sixteen of season three, an episode recorded on April 21, 2025, the day on which Pope Francis died.  I talk about Pope Francis in this episode and the first major interview he gave to Jesuit journals around the world including America Magazine in the USA. I have linked to the interview here: A Big Heart Open to God interview.  I responded to that interview with a piece I wrote for America called The Pope’s Interview and the Bible.

In this episode I read my analysis of the biblical foundations of that interview as I think the passages he referenced remained a guiding light for his papacy and for his encyclicals.

On the CCE Facebook page, I wrote:

The CCE mourns the passing of Pope Francis (1936-2025). Our Centre was established to further his outreach to and engagement with the world. Our website says this about his work: “More than fifty years after the close of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Francis is leading a renewal of the Church that is deeply embedded within the Catholic Intellectual tradition, which emphasizes that learning means discovering and growing in the truth. It builds on his formation in the Argentinian “Theology of the People”, which understands “the honest and sincere love of God practiced by people at the local level might inform the theological understanding and religious behaviour of the global church.” Released shortly after his election, Francis’ first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (2013) represents his blueprint for this renewal. It calls for the creation of a “culture of encounter”, and for the Church to become “a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcome, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.” In 2023 we held our first international conference to reflect upon the theology of Pope Francis. In that same year we offered our first Laudato Si’ lecture, a lecture which is offered annually in honour of his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. We are thankful for his life dedicated to sharing the Gospel of love with all people. His life challenges us to answer, what matters most to us, the love of power or the power of love? May he rest in peace and may we continue to witness to God’s love, here in Vancouver and throughout the world.

Peace to you all.

There will be further remembrances and reflections on Pope Francis and his papacy to come in the coming week.

John W. Martens,

Director, Centre for Christian Engagement