Fr. Jeff Yildirmaz
Blessed be the Holy Name of Mary!
As Catholics it is part of our daily practice to pray for the Pope. As I am sure you have heard, Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Let us pray extra prayers for his healing and recovery.
We are super aware of our health these days, there seems to be an endless preoccupation with it. I would respectfully presume that the Holy Father is very much at peace with whatever the outcome may be for him. Of course we pray for his recovery, but that is not the most important thing to pray for. What is of primary importance is to pray for his immortal soul.
In the end our bodies will fail, but our souls can grow in perfection and be in unity with God. Through God’s grace, an illness of a loved one can bring healing to those who are not sick. Members of the family can be reconciled and even conversions can take place.
My favorite Pope, St. John Paul II, struggled with his health during the last 10 years of his life. He went from being a pope who went skiing to slurring his words. Still, he didn’t let this keep him away from His mission which was to teach, sanctify and govern the Church. He did so with a great missionary spirit and showed his cross to others with great witness and dignity.
A recently canonized saint, St. Carlo Acutis died at the very young age of 15. During his illness, he offered his suffering for the reigning Pontiff, Benedict XVI. St. Carlo did not treat his fatal illness with resentment or bitterness towards God or others. Instead, his illness led him to greater prayer and trust in the Lord.
The saints are not only great examples of how we should live but also how to die with peace and trust in God. If we have faith in Christ, we have nothing to fear. As baptized Christians who believe in Him, we belong to Him forever and He has claimed us to share in His divine life.
Permit me to conclude with St. Paul: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Pax et Bonum.
In Jesus and Mary.
