The Passing of Pope Francis

By Samantha Miller

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood join with our brothers and sisters in all the corners of the world to express our deepest sorrow for the loss of Pope Francis, 88, who passed earlier today.

“He was a beloved, good shepherd to all people of good will and of all faiths without distinction,” shared S. Rosalie Carven, who was interviewed by News 12 on the pope’s passing. “It is a time to mourn, but it is also a time to rejoice. No place in the world will be absent in its praise for Pope Francis’ goodness.”

Known as a progressive world leader, the Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio — the first Latin American pontiff — leaves behind a groundbreaking 12-year legacy in which he brought views considered to be modern and inclusive into the Roman Catholic Church.

The 266th pope, who was elected in 2013, continually advocated for the rights and respect of refugees and migrants alike — a view shared by the Sisters of St. Joseph, as shown through the Long Island Immigration Clinic and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. He was adamantly against mass deportations, encouraging governments to welcome and protect migrants and refugees.

“Pope Francis was a champion of the marginalized, with an unwavering commitment to social justice, environmental stewardship and care for the poor,” S. Janet Kinney, CSJ, director of the Long Island Immigration Clinic, said. “Up until his very last moments on this Earth, he spoke out against the unjust treatment of the migrant, the refugee, the LGTBQIA+ person, and for all those who suffer in our world.”

Francis also served as a main figure in the global efforts to address climate change since his very start as pope.

“There is a need to act with urgency, compassion and determination, since the stakes could not be higher,” Pope Francis said last year in an address to a climate summit at the Vatican, referring to the destruction of the environment as a “structural sin.”  

The Sisters of St. Joseph wholeheartedly embraced the pope’s message, walking faithfully in his footsteps and making meaningful moves to implement changes on the campus, including the Land Ethic Statement, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary last month, and through the development of the ecology ministry.

“His efforts were, literally, as far reaching as the ends of the earth,” said S. Rosalie. “Pope Francis knew no other purpose than to be life-giving, and all who encountered him personally received that gift.”

Watch the News 12 segment featuring the interview with S. Rosalie here.