Msgr. James Shea on Pope Francis’ Message of Hope

Monsignor James Shea, President of the University of Mary and longtime contributor to Morning Air, joined Relevant Radio live from Bismarck, North Dakota, to offer heartfelt reflections on the legacy of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Monsignor Shea shared that he was awakened at 4:30 a.m. to the news of the Pope’s death and immediately celebrated Mass for the repose of his soul. “It was profoundly moving to come to the point in the Eucharistic prayer where we normally mention the pope’s name, and instead offer silent prayer,” he said. “The whole Church now enters a time of mourning and prayer.”

Though Pope Francis had appeared frail in recent months, he surprised many with a final public appearance on Easter Sunday, offering the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Among the faithful present were students from the University of Mary’s Rome campus—many of whom had long been praying for his recovery.

Reflecting on the Pope’s enduring impact, Monsignor Shea emphasized two major aspects of his pontificate: his tireless apostolic witness and his unwavering emphasis on divine mercy. Despite being elected at age 76—an age when many expected a “caretaker pope”—Pope Francis visited more than 40 countries and consistently reached the peripheries of society, from war zones to forgotten communities.

Spiritually, Pope Francis championed mercy. “He taught us that God never wearies of forgiving, but we often grow tired of asking for forgiveness,” Shea recalled. His final encyclical, on devotion to the Sacred Heart, encapsulated a life of deep intimacy with Christ and compassion for the wounded.

Now, as the Church prays for the repose of Pope Francis, Monsignor Shea urged the faithful to remain “pilgrims of hope,” as the Holy Father called us to be in this Jubilee Year. “Hope isn’t just for this world—it orients us toward eternal life. And now, we pray Pope Francis is enjoying that life in the house of the Father.”

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