As they absorbed the news of Pope Francis’ death Easter Monday, leaders of the five religious communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud recalled what his papacy — with its emphasis on walking with those on the margins and caring for God’s creation — has meant to their communities and ministries.
Abbot Douglas Mullin of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville said that as he reflected on the passing of Pope Francis, it was with deep personal gratitude for the impact the pope had on his life as a priest and abbot.
“His humility, pastoral tenderness and unwavering commitment to those on the margins have shaped not only my understanding of leadership, but also the way I strive to serve others in ministry,” he said.
He said Pope Francis’ witness to the Gospel — marked by humility, mercy and a profound concern for the poor and marginalized — has deeply inspired the monastic community at Saint John’s.
“His call to care for creation, to accompany those on the margins, and to build a Church of dialogue and compassion resonated with our Benedictine commitment to prayer, community and hospitality,” the abbot said. “We mourn his passing, even as we rejoice in the enduring legacy of his pastoral heart and prophetic voice.”
The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls have a special commitment to caring for, listening to and seeking right relationship with all people, the Earth and all of creation, especially those affected by injustice and exclusion.
“We Franciscans felt a kinship with Pope Francis, both for his choice of a name and for his call to be a Church ‘of the poor and for the poor,’” said Franciscan Sister Bea Eichten, community minister. “He was a wise, humble man who embraced all of creation, reaching out and inviting persons of all races and religions to be in relationship with one another. Pope Francis was a voice of moral authority on the world stage, consistently giving a message of peace, mercy, and reconciliation. We pray that what he embodied and taught will continue to give life to our Church and world into the future.”
Crosier Father Stephan Bauer said Pope Francis’ promotion of a Church that listens and walks together resonated with the Crosiers’ collaborative and communal approach to decision-making and spiritual life.
“The Holy Father’s emphasis on God’s closeness to those in pain or spiritual need reinforced our mission to touch suffering with hope,” Father Bauer shared on behalf of the Crosier Fathers and Brothers in Onamia. “His call to go to the periphery encourages us to continue our outreach to marginalized communities, especially the Latino community, those in jails, immigrants, veterans with [post-traumatic stress disorder], our international missions and many more.”
The Poor Clare Sisters in Sauk Rapids also felt an instant connection with Pope Francis.
“[He] emphasized in his papacy many of the Gospel values that are so important to our own spirituality: concern for the poor, immigrants, migrants, the marginalized — the ‘lepers’ of our day — and concern for the care of God’s creation, our common home,” said Poor Clare Abbess Mother Mary Matthew Tomczyk.
“His emphatic call to learn by listening to what others have to say, to be inviting and welcoming and leaving judgment of other people to God alone helps us to remember that all are God’s children and equally in need of our prayers and sacrifices,” she said.
Benedictine Prioress Karen Rose of Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph noted that Pope Francis’ message has encouraged the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict to take risks in growing their ministries for those who are underserved and intentionally finding ways to care more consciously for the environment.
“We have been made hopeful and joyful by his care for those on the margins, for immigrants and for the whole of creation,” she said. “His message is profound, yet he has proclaimed it joyfully, which inspires us to participate. We have participated very fully in the synod process and are determined to honor that legacy by remaining committed to our monastic promises and way of life, which in its very essence is a synodal way of being.”