Father Ryan Stenger recalls the legacy of Pope Francis during evening vespers

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The death of Pope Francis triggered an outpouring of grief from Catholics worldwide with a reported 400,000 people flocking to Rome for his funeral. Dioceses around the world have been mourning the loss of the Holy Father with stational Masses, Vespers and funeral Masses in his honor. The Diocese of Covington has joined in this mourning, celebrating all three in the week following the passing of the Holy Father.

During the celebration of sung evening Vespers in commemoration of Pope Francis, April 25, Father Ryan Stenger, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Covington and pastor, St. Jospeh Parish, Camp Springs, walked through the hallmarks of Pope Francis’ 12-year papacy.

Father Stenger recalled Pope Francis’ first homily as Pope, “He said, ‘We can walk as much as we want, we can build many things. But, if we do not confess Jesus Christ, nothing will avail.’”

Father Stenger continued saying, “Now he developed that thought a little more a few months later, one of his first general audiences, he said, ‘The Church is not a shop, she’s not a humanitarian agency, she’s not an NGO. The Church is sent to bring Christ and His Gospel to all. She does not bring herself; the Church brings Jesus.’”

Having been in Rome during the conclave of Pope Francis, Father Stenger remembers the feeling in St. Peter’s Square when the cardinal appeared on the balcony ready to announce the next Pope.

“I remember hearing all the different languages being spoken around me in that moment and thinking about whoever stepped out on that balcony would touch the lives of countless people around the world in ways we can never begin to imagine,” said Father Stenger.

The humble nature that often embodied the papacy of Pope Francis, did not escape mention from Father Stenger’s homily, “The Holy Father called us often to go to the very margines of society, to be close to the people most removed from the life of the Church and from a relationship with God,” said Father Stenger.

Humility, a humble heart, is necessary to reach those on the fringes of society in the way Pope Francis so often did. Father Stenger called those at evening Vespers to honor the life of the late Holy Father by humbling their hearts and seeking to renew the love of Christ in others.