Dear Catholic International University Community,
Today we mourn Pope Francis’ departure from this earthly life. We unite ourselves to the whole Body of Christ in praying for the repose of his soul, while also giving thanks for his generous service to the Church and to the world.
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis continually invited all people to discover God’s fatherly and merciful heart, and to seek Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, who is the reason for “a hope that does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:5) This message of hope was also the central theme that he chose for the present Jubilee year. It is a hope, as he reminded us yesterday in his Easter message, that is not “an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us. All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life.”
His words yesterday reminded me of an address he gave last year, when he made a proactive request for participation from leaders of Catholic universities, saying:
I ask you to help the Church, at this moment in history, to shed light on the deepest human aspirations by offering insights and understanding, as well as the “reasons of hope” (cf. 1 Pet 3:15) born of faith, and thus assisting the Church to engage confidently in dialogue on the great issues of our time. Help us to translate culturally, in a language open to new generations and new times, the richness of the Christian tradition; to identify the new frontiers of thought, science and technology to approach them with balance and wisdom. (Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to a Delegation of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, Consistory Hall Friday 19 January 2024)
Shortly after he made this address, I had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father and tell him in person about the work Catholic International University was undertaking to reach those who had no access to quality Catholic education. The Holy Father was visibly tired (in fact, we later learned that he was hospitalized shortly afterwards), but when he heard of our plans for the University his face lit up as he smiled and responded with a classic Argentinian expression saying, “Metele, metele!” which means, “Go for it, go for it!” We have not hesitated to act on these words of encouragement from the Vicar of Christ, and we are on the move to reach those who most need what we have to offer. Now, together with St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, we can also count on Pope Francis to intercede for our work.
The closing words of the Holy Father’s Easter Sunday message provided the perfect prelude to
his passing this morning, “In the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, death and life contended in a
stupendous struggle, but the Lord now lives forever (cf. Easter Sequence). He fills us with the
certainty that we too are called to share in the life that knows no end, when the clash of arms
and the rumble of death will be heard no more. Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can
make all things new (cf. Rev. 21:5)!”
Requiescat in pace, Holy Father! Please join me in also praying for his future successor, as yet
unknown, who will be chosen through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Sincerely in Christ,
Maria Sophia Aguirre, Ph.D.
President, Catholic International University