pope francis was buried in his old wrorn out shoes that he always wore. note the scuff marks

He could have been buried in shoes polished to a shine, new and unmarked.

But he wasn’t.

Simple black shoes.

Scuffed, worn, bruised. Much like all of us.

He went to his rest in shoes that had known the dust of the streets, the weight of long journeys, the ache of standing alongside the poor, the forgotten, the heartbroken, and the lost.

He once wrote, “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.”

And so he was — a shepherd who smelled like his sheep, a pilgrim who bore the scuffs and stains of the road.

There was always a beautiful tension in Pope Francis’ life:

-A Jesuit who took the name of Francis.

-A son of Latin America with roots deep in the soil of Europe.

-A Pope who chose to be a shepherd, not a prince, who chose the cross, not the throne and not grandeur but simplicity.

When I saw his shoes, I thought of the shoes of St. Ignatius of Loyola — shoes worn thin by miles of wandering, teaching, and loving.

The shoes of a pilgrim.

The shoes of a man who believed the Gospel is not proclaimed by standing still, but by walking, by going, by risking, by loving. That is the path to Jesus.

Pope Francis lived as he died — showing us that the path to Jesus Christ is not paved in comfort but in courage. In not remaining inside but by going out.

This is a path that leads to the margins, to the brokenhearted, to the overlooked corners of the world.

In his own words, spoken on April 12, 2023:

“One does not proclaim the Gospel standing still, locked in an office, at one’s desk, or at one’s computer, arguing like ‘keyboard warriors’ and replacing the creativity of proclamation with copy-and-paste ideas taken from here and there.

The Gospel is proclaimed by moving, by walking, by going.”

Thank you, Holy Father, for walking the road with us — with scuffed shoes, a bruised heart and open arms.

Photo: The simple shoes Pope Francis wears for his burial)

Isaiah 52:7

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’.” This verse describes the joy and anticipation that a messenger bringing such news would elicit, particularly as they approach Zion, a symbol of God’s people and kingdom.

Here’s a breakdown of the verse:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet…”
The verse highlights the visual image of the messenger’s feet, emphasizing the impact of their arrival.
“…of those who bring good news…”
This phrase identifies the messenger as a herald of good tidings, a positive and uplifting message.
“…who proclaim peace…”
The messenger brings the message of peace, often understood as the cessation of conflict and the establishment of a harmonious relationship with God.
“…who bring good tidings…”
This refers to the overall positive message, often associated with the arrival of the Messiah or God’s salvation.
“…who proclaim salvation…”
The verse emphasizes the messenger’s role in announcing God’s saving grace and deliverance.
“…who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'”
This declaration signifies the authority and sovereignty of God, establishing the establishment of God’s kingdom.