Pope Francis’ homily at
Funeral Mass for Archbishop Léon Kalenga
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| Pope Francis at the funeral Mass for the former Papal Nuncio to Argentina (Vatican Media) |
The Pope delivers the homily at the funeral Mass for the
former Papal Nuncio to Argentina and reflects on the theme of leave-taking.
By Vatican News
Archbishop Léon Kalenga Badikebele was born in what was then
the Belgian Congo in 1956. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in
1990. His last post was that of Apostolic Nuncio in Argentina. He died this
month in Rome after a long illness, and his funeral was held in St Peter’s
Basilica on Saturday morning.
Valedictio
Pope Francis began by reflecting on the meaning of the word
“valedictio”, the “farewell” that concludes every funeral Mass. “It is
like saying: we let you go to God”, said the Pope, “into God's hands…which are
the most beautiful hands, hands wounded with love”.
Testimony
Even more so, continued the Pope, ”it is the farewell of the
shepherd. The shepherd says goodbye to his people, to his flock”. Using the
example of St Paul leaving the faithful in Miletus, the Pope said, “the
shepherd says goodbye with his own testimony”, he takes his leave “showing that
his life is one of obedience to God”.
Detachment
The pastor also takes his leave “with a witness of
detachment”, said Pope Francis. “He is accustomed to being unattached to the
goods of this world”. Again referencing the example of St Paul, as recounted in
Acts chapter 20, the Pope said, the pastor detaches himself from the faithful,
saying: "Now you are adults. Watch over yourselves and over the whole
flock…and be careful, because after my departure rapacious wolves will come
among you".
Learning to leave
But “detachment is temporary”, clarified the Pope. In His
farewell, Jesus gives us hope when He tells us: "I am going to prepare a
place for you". Pope Francis concluded his homily by recalling the
spirituality he was taught in the novitiate: “that all life is a way of
learning to die…life teaches us to leave…to say goodbye”, he said. “May the
Lord give us all this grace: to learn to leave”.
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