Pope Francis and my vocation

Source: Jesuit Institute South Africa

Pope Francis has been in hospital for over a week, suffering from double pneumonia and kidney problems. All around the world, there has been an outpouring of love, prayer and support for the ailing pontiff.

Pope Francis means so much to so many people. His papacy has been characterised by his joy, simplicity, and gentle pastoral approach. Thanks to his words and gestures of inclusion, many who felt excluded by the Church have felt comfortable returning. I find myself smiling whenever I see him warmly smiling at others.

I am praying not only for his healing this week but also with gratitude for what he has meant to me.

I remember when he was elected Pope in March 2013. I was so impressed during the Urbi et Orbi blessing by his simple attire, his familiar greeting to the people gathered in St Peter's Square, and his bowing down and asking them to pray for him before he gave the blessing.

I remember him riding the bus with the Cardinals back to Casa Santa Marta and paying his own bill. I was deeply moved by his explanation of his chosen Papal name. He was inspired by St Francis of Assisi, a man of poverty and peace who desired "a poor Church, and for the poor."

I also remember how everyone was making a fuss about the fact that he was the first "Jesuit" Pope. Some commentators seemed concerned by this, while others celebrated it. What did it mean that Francis was a Jesuit?

I did what any millennial would do in the circumstances: I googled the word "Jesuit." I was enamoured by what I found - the Society of Jesus, an order of religious priests and brothers with a spirituality of seeking God in all things who try their best to do everything Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam - for the Greater Glory of God (AMDG).

I have been a Jesuit for nearly seven years. It has not all been easy, but it has been an incredible journey. I have encountered God, myself, others, the church, and the world in many surprising, challenging, and beautiful ways. I have experienced the joy of living one's vocation, being close to Jesus and others, and serving.

We are in the Jubilee year of hope. The world feels like a confusing place with wars, political and economic uncertainties, climate change and ever-growing societal divisions. In the midst of this, Pope Francis calls us to hope. He reminds us that we do not hope for specific outcomes but rather for an encounter with a person, Jesus Christ, who is our hope.

As we continue to pray with hope for Pope Francis, we can reflect on what his papacy has meant to us. How has he inspired you? How has he unsettled you? What is your prayer of gratitude for him today?

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