Pope Leo XIV suggests he believes Pope Francis is in heaven
The remark by the American pope has raised eyebrows and given rise to speculation of a papal canonization, though such an event is unlikely in the immediate future.
VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV commented Sunday that he believed Pope Francis was in heaven, thus echoing a phrase employed by a prominent cardinal just before the conclave.
Some 200,000 people are estimated to have been present in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for the opening Mass of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
Just around a month after the death of Pope Francis, the large crowd eagerly listening to the words of his successor heard Leo attest to Francis’ presence in heaven:
During Mass, I strongly felt the spiritual presence of Pope Francis accompanying us from heaven.
In making such a remark, Leo appeared to suggest that the late pope was enjoying the Beatific Vision in heaven.
The Catholic Church teaches the necessity of praying for the souls of the dead, noting that those who die and go to purgatory – due to needing further purification of their sins – are to be remembered by the Church in prayer.
Drawing from Scripture, the Church teaches the importance not just of praying for the souls of the faithful departed but also of offering sacrifices and penances for them. Quoting directly from St. John Chrysostom, the Church teaches:
Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.
However, in recent decades, there has been a growing custom of describing the deceased individual as being in a “better place” or quite simply in “heaven.”
Such a practice has also led to the decline in praying for the dead, since those in heaven no longer require the assistance of prayer. As attested to by many priests, fewer and fewer Catholics remain aware of the dire importance of praying for the holy souls of the departed, believing instead that many go directly to heaven.
Leo’s Sunday comments are in line with those made by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re during the funeral for Francis.
Topic: Is this papal presumption? (Read 196 times)