Pope Francis celebrated a Mass for deceased cardinals and bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica on November 4, saying they were “shepherds and models for the Lord’s flock” who loved the Church in their own way.
Seven Catholic cardinals and 123 Catholic bishops died within the last 12 months.
“Our remembrance becomes a prayer of intercession for our dear brothers, elect members of the people of God. They were baptized into the death of Christ in order to rise with him,” the pope said in his homily at the Mass. It is the pope’s custom to offer a Mass in November for the prelates who passed away during the past year.
“Having broken the bread of life on earth may they now enjoy a seat at his table,” he continued. “Let us pray that they may exult in eternal communion with the saints and we, with firm hope, let us look forward to rejoicing with them in heaven.”
During the homily, the Holy Father invited more than 200 people present at the Monday Mass — including cardinals, bishops, priests, men and women religious, and laypeople — to meditate on the word “remember” in the account of Christ’s crucifixion recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel.
“‘Ricordare’ in Italian means to lead back to the heart [or] to carry in the heart,” the pope shared. “That man crucified alongside with Jesus transformed his dire pain into a prayer: ‘Carry me in your heart, Jesus.’”
Emphasizing the significance of Our Lord’s heart, the Holy Father said Jesus always listens to the prayers of defenseless sinners.
“This criminal who dies as a ‘disciple of the last hour’ desired only one thing: to find a welcome heart,” he said. “Christ’s heart, pierced by pain, was laid open to save the world. [He has] an open heart, not a closed heart. Dying himself, he was open to the voice of a dying man.”
“Jesus dies with us because he died for us,” Pope Francis repeated to the congregation.
Sitting in front of a covered Altar of the Chair of St. Peter, the Holy Father implored his listeners to have a merciful and compassionate heart like Jesus.
“How do we carry people in our hearts? How do we remember those right at our side throughout our lives? Do you judge? Do you divide? Or do [you] welcome?” the pope asked, according to a Catholic News Agency report.
“Dear brothers and sisters, by turning to the heart of God, men and women of today and of every age can find hope for salvation,” the Holy Father insisted. “The Lord is close to us.”
“Jesus, remember us! Jesus, remember us!”
Six U.S. bishops were among the deceased clergy remembered during the Mass held in the Vatican: Bishop Raymond Emil Goedert of Chicago; Bishop Francisco González Valer of Washington, D.C.; Bishop Thomas John Gumbleton of Detroit; Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly of Worcester, Massachusetts; Bishop Edward James Slattery of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Bishop Basil Harry Losten of Stamford, Connecticut, of the Ukrainians.
