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Answering the call: honouring the Holy Father

The legacy of Pope Francis’ pontificate has captured the world’s attention since his passing on Easter Monday, writes ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis.

The Holy Father was an inspiration to many around the globe. His death and the days of mourning that followed were a time for reflection and an outpouring of grief for Catholics. People of all faiths and backgrounds had a desire to understand his legacy and the significance of the various ancient rites and rituals that followed.

Much of what we do in education, research and service at ACU is a direct response to Pope Francis' call for 'Universities of Meaning'; universities’ ability to respond to the health, social, cultural and environmental challenges we are facing as members of a human family.

The call to go out and proclaim truth is also an integral part of the mission of a Catholic university. In Ex Corde Ecclesia, Pope John Paul II’s apostolic constitution that defines the work of Catholic universities, institutions of higher education are called to the continuing education of the public:

“Through programmes of continuing education offered to the wider community by making its scholars available for consulting services, by taking advantage of modern means of communication, and in a variety of other ways, a Catholic University can assist in making the growing body of human knowledge and a developing understanding of the faith available to a wider public, thus expanding university services beyond its own academic community.”

In the week following Pope Francis’ death, and now with the election of a new pope on the horizon, there is an unprecedented demand for analysis, insight and historical and theological context. Every media outlet in Australia, across radio, television, print, and online, is devoting extensive coverage to the papacy and the Catholic Church.

In times like these, where the deep traditions of our Catholic faith are on show, ACU takes to heart Pope John Paul II’s call not to stand idle but to help create a deeper understanding of our Church in the public square.

We saw this as our experts in theology, history and liturgy gave back-to-back interviews, keeping pace with the 24/7 news cycle. Our colleagues and students in Rome also made themselves available to speak to the Australian press to explain this historic moment in the Catholic Church.

I was proud to watch three of our experts - Professor Clare Johnson, Associate Professor Joel Hodge, and Associate Professor Darius von Guttner - provide insightful and reverent commentary across three TV networks during the live broadcast of the funeral of Pope Francis.

I want to acknowledge and thank them, as well as Dr Sandie Cornish, Dr Claudio Betti, Dr Antonia Pizzey, Dr Maeve Heaney, Jacqui Remond, Dr James McEvoy, Fr Frank Brennan, Dr Richard Leonard SJ and Ms Kelly Humphrey, for the way they honoured Pope Francis in the media.

By the time this column is published, the College of Cardinals may have appointed a new pontiff, who will follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis. His unwavering call to compassion, humility and service inspires us to pursue our mission with renewed purpose and dedication.

As he reminds us, “May we be sustained by the conviction that education bears within itself a seed of hope: the hope of peace and justice; the hope of beauty and goodness; the hope of social harmony.”

May we continue to be inspired by his kindness and wisdom as we strive to serve others with humility and grace. As we come to know our new pope, I take heart that our university will be faithful to Ex Corde Ecclesia and provide insight into the first chapter of a new papacy.

This article originally appeared in The Catholic Weekly.