A KIND AND GENTLE MAN

Bishop Scharfenberger shares remarks on Pope Francis’ death

In meeting with the media at the Pastoral Center on April 21, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger recalled memories of Pope Francis, saying, "The energy that came from his heart and his compassion for those who were down and out seemed to radiate and even give him life as well. I think that's where his strength is from. That’s what I remember best.” (Emily Benson photo)

On Easter Monday, in a courtyard blooming with pink and white flowers, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany spoke to the media on the death of Pope Francis. 

Pope Francis, 88, who died in the early morning of April 21, was characterized by the Bishop as a kind, loving and gentle man, passionate about justice and supporting those who felt left out. 

“The energy that came from his heart and his compassion for those who were down and out seemed to radiate and even give him life as well,” Bishop Scharfenberger said. “I think that's where his strength is from. That’s what I remember best.”

The Bishop took questions in the courtyard located within the Pastoral Center’s property on Monday afternoon, discussing his relationship with Pope Francis, the vision he left behind, and the next steps forward.

The Bishop summed up the pope’s lasting impact as a vision of loving God, loving our community, and loving the earth — things he hopes to continue living out. 

“The essential relationships  — God, community, and our common home, the earth — that was his essential message. And if we keep those three together, we can grow as human beings, and I think I would like to see that continue, and I would like to promote that in all that we do.”

The Bishop spoke of “a lot of good personal memories” with Pope Francis over the years. His first encounter with the pope shed light on his humility, as the first words he spoke to Bishop Scharfenberger were asking for his prayers.

The most notable quote from Pope Francis wasn’t something the Bishop witnessed in person but stuck with him over the years. After becoming pope, a reporter asked how he would best describe himself to the people. He answered, “A sinner.” 

“I felt so good when he said that!” Bishop Scharfenberger said. “Here is a person who got what is considered a promotion, raised up to this level, and his first thought is: I am a sinner. And I think what he wanted to do was identify with people who feel left out. He always spoke about the people on the margins, and that means all of us in some way, not just the economically poor, people who are lonely, people who feel somehow like they don’t have a home, people caught in addiction or abuse, and he always showed his heart was on his face.”

One of the Bishop’s last memories of the pope was from his recent visit to Rome at the end of January for a gathering of graduates from the Pontifical North American College. Even in a wheelchair and struggling with pain, Pope Francis attended the meeting with a glowing smile and palpable cheerfulness. 

“He was there and present, and he didn't stay in the hospital; he just had to get out,” the Bishop said. 

The Bishop advised that digging into the faith could help provide understanding and comfort during this time of uncertainty. 

“When I look at the crucifix, I see a God telling us that each and every one of us is loved by God,” he said. “Nobody should be excluded from the table of God’s love, and the more we dig into that, the more we find our security.”

“In Judaism, there is an expression that when a person dies, you lose a life, but the relationship continues,” Bishop Scharfenberger added, “and I think that, however we view theologically what happens in death, our relationship with Papa Francesco continues.”

Bishop Scharfenberger said that while he doesn’t “have any tea leaves to predict” the next steps for the next pope in succession, he prays that whatever the conclave decides is what “we most need at this time.”