Bishop San Reflects on Meeting Pope Francis Personally
Rather than repeating the much-revered sentiments shared by many across the world, Bishop San has offered to share his personal experience with Pope Francis – from when he and Lynn met the Pope during the Bishop‘s sabbatical in May/June 2024.
Pope Francis at Wednesday Audience
“Holy Spirit transforms chaos into Cosmos”
(The following is Pope Francis’ teaching on the day of Bishop San‘s visit.)
At the General Audience, Pope Francis begins a new cycle of catechesis on “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope.”
Pope Francis launched a new catechetical cycle on Wednesday, beginning a series of teachings on “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope.”
“We will make this journey,” he said at the General Audience, “through the three great stages of salvation history: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the time of the Church, always keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus our hope.”
The Spirit of God hovering over the waters
Beginning from the very first verses of the Bible, the Pope reflected on “the Spirit hovering over the waters,” transforming primordial chaos into “something beautiful and ordered,” the “cosmos.”
Later books of the Bible proclaim even more clearly the creative work of the Holy Spirit, especially in the New Testament, which shows the “intervention of the Holy Spirit in the new creation.”
Alienation from God
However, the Pope said, the relationship between the Spirit and creation has suffered due to the “sin and corruption of humanity that has dragged it into its alienation from God.”
“This remains as true today” as it was when Saint Paul first described it in his letters.
The solution to this alienation, Pope Francis said, can be found in Saint Francis of Assisi, who shows us “the way of contemplation and praise.” “Our vocation in the world,” the Pope said, citing St Paul, “is to be ‘praise of His glory’… putting the joy of contemplating ahead of the joy of possessing.”
‘I will put My Spirit within you’
Pope Francis emphasized that the Spirit Who “transformed chaos into cosmos is at work to bring about this transformation in every person.”
He emphasized that the external chaos we see in the world, whether social or political, can only be healed if we begin to heal the internal chaos within our hearts.
“May this reflection,” the Pope concluded, “arouse in us the desire to experience the Creator Spirit.”
Taken from the Vatican News Website
Bishop San‘s Reflection
While on their Sabbatical to Canterbury Cathedral and Rome to trace the roots of authentic Anglicanism, Bishop San and Lynn were special guests of Pope Francis’ Wednesday Audience Teaching Series in St. Peter’s Square on May 29, 2024. Their invitations were made possible by the Anglican Center in Rome. They were accompanied by Archbishop Ian Ernest, Director and Anglican Communion Representative to the Vatican City in Rome.
Bishop San, in reflecting on the meeting with Pope Francis, said it was a memorable and most cherished moment to be in the company of the world’s most holy man. Bishop San refers to Pope Francis as his continental friend, since they both hail from South America serving God’s church as beloved of Jesus in other parts of the world. Pope Francis remains an iconic spiritual leader, making a difference by transforming lives and sharing the love and hope of Jesus to a bewildered and broken world.
The photos of their meeting show the genuine intimacy and friendliness of their conversation. The bishop presented to the Pope an autographed copy of his book: “The Spiritual Order of a Messy Church: An Anglican Perspective on Spirituality and Ministry Formation”. Bishop San remembers, even amongst an audience of thousands, that Pope Francis made it feel as if he and Lynn were the only persons present. Bishop San fondly refers to Pope Francis as ‘My Papa! My Friend!’
Bishop San asked the Pope to pray for the Diocese of Easton and for strength, protection and blessing to continue to be a faithful servant of Jesus and his church. Equally he assured the pope of his constant prayer for his health and well-being.