The Legacy of Pope Francis, in Part

During the five weeks that Pope Francis was treated for complications of respiratory infection, journalists were preparing articles about his legacy in anticipation of his death.

In his autobiography, “Hope,” Francis recounted that, as a young priest, he fell victim to an epidemic of Asian flu. Sister Cornelia Caraglio, a skilled nurse, recognized that he needed a specialist, who drained 1 1/2 liters of fluid from his lungs. Then she went on to double his medication, saving his life.

The pope wrote, “It was not the first time that the sisters took care of me.” (He has a special fondness for women religious.) His reminder that “No one can save oneself alone” is only a part of the enormous legacy that he leaves to the world. Another of many gifts that Pope Francis has given the human family is the reminder that our God is a God of mercy.

As a young priest in Argentina, he was not progressive. As rector of the Jesuit College, he banned books on liberation theology. His Jesuit superiors saw that he was very gifted but his charismatic personality divided the Argentinian Jesuits into “pro” and “anti” Bergoglio factions. They sent him to Germany to study; upon his return, they exiled him to Cordoba with minimal responsibilities. This was his dark night of the soul in which he experienced the mercy of God.

“The Church is a field hospital, the Pope said, where we go to be healed. We go to the margins, welcome the prodigal son and bind up each other’s wounds.”

Recognizing God’s mercy and acknowledging that we depend on others are but two gifts Pope Francis has given us. Drafts of his obituary will continue to be written to describe his legacy to the world. The problem will be space limitations.