Listen to the Homily
‘Brothers and sisters, good evening’
Bishop Scott Bullock
Ninth Day Novendiales Mass
Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City
May 4, 2025
For those who are in the know about these things, greeted me this morning with these words: “Bishop, you’re not on the schedule.” But these are extraordinary times. We gather this morning for the ninth of the days of mourning for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and so I’m here to offer that prayer for his eternal rest and his eternal life.
Looking back when Pope Francis was elected, he addressed the crowd with these words, beginning with these words, “Fratelli e sorelli, buona sera,” which translates, “Brothers and sisters, good evening.” This greeting marked a significant moment, as he introduced himself to the world as a brother rather than a sovereign pontiff, emphasizing his rather approachable and pastoral style.
He then continued: “You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the Earth to get him, but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome. First of all, I would say a prayer: Pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our Lady protect him.” And then he invited everyone to pray for the resigned pope.
Then he continued, “and now let us begin this journey, the bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood. My hope is that this journey of the Church that will begin today, together with help of my Cardinal Vicar, be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city. And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favor. Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me — the prayer of the people for their bishop. Let us say this prayer — your prayer for me — in silence. … I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of goodwill.”
So, it was a short message — quite spontaneous and from the heart. While Pope Francis may have written about what preceded that moment, I can’t help but think that today’s Gospel was definitely informing his actions and reactions to his election as pope on the 13 of March, 12 years ago, when he was 76 years old.
For there in the Gospel Jesus asked Peter, and asked Pope Francis by extension, “Do you love me? Do you really love me?”
When he was at retirement age, the Holy Spirit asked Pope Francis to continue to love God by loving the sheep of the whole world until death. And Pope Francis said, “yes.”
The very last part of the Gospel must have been on his heart as well. After Jesus asks Peter, the head of the church, do you love me three times, both as a healing for his three betrayals in the garden, and an invitation to love more fully, he then says this to St. Peter: “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And then he said this to him, “Follow me.”
Surely the pope would have known this invitation to love the Lord by feeding his sheep would be costly. He would often go where he did not want to go, and ultimately “stretch out his hands,” that is, follow Jesus’ pattern of the way of the Cross, and yet, Pope Francis still said yes.
I have taken the opportunity to witness the chance I had to meet Pope Francis, just two weeks after becoming your bishop, when I was on pilgrimage to Rome. Specifically, I wanted to thank him for the honor of his appointment to serve as a bishop in this “promised land” of South Dakota! To be clear, my meeting was not private. Probably another 25,000 people joined me in greeting the Holy Father. I was led to a seat up on the platform in St. Peter’s Square, where the Pope’s audience chair awaited his arrival.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted in enthusiasm as the “popemobile” entered the square and the pope greeted folks around the square, with some small children in the car with him. He stopped frequently to greet the least — those with handicaps, small children, the elderly. At each moment, his mercy-filled heart reached out to acknowledge the dignity of persons that the world would often ignore.
Finally, he arrived on the platform, exited the car and was led-slowly-to his chair. It was an act of determination of a man who clearly was not in good health. Once arriving at the chair, he took some time to catch his breath and then began to greet the pilgrims, one language group after another.
I don’t know about you, but when I don’t feel well, I usually want to be left alone. This heroic man instead brought his infirmity to a crowd of 25,000 or so determined to encourage them and call them to a joyful life in Christ.
He was the Vicar of Christ to the very end! He was “stretching out his hands” to us, even while at the same time embracing the cross of Jesus after the pattern of the Lord’s own loving way.
When I had the chance to greet him, I said to him, in Italian, “I am a new bishop from the United States. A bishop for only two weeks.”
Pope Francis reacted with delight! He began to wave his hand in front of his face and replied, again in Italian, “I can still smell the oil Chrism from your consecration!” and he grinned with delight.
I replied, “Grazie per questa gran onore,” Thank you for this great honor.
It was a highlight-the pope showed such delight in my new life as Bishop of Rapid City! His witness is a powerful one, isn’t it? Until the end. Loving God by loving his little ones, the sheep.
Brothers and sisters, can we not honor his memory by resolving to do the same? Can we not love one another? Will each other’s good even when the other doesn’t seem to merit it? Because, guess what, neither do we, but we remain the apple of God’s eye.
Back on that loggia above St. Peter’s square, the first thing Pope Francis asked us to do was to pray for his predecessor, Pope Benedict. Then he then asked our prayers for him, the new pope. So, let’s follow Pope Francis’ pattern, first praying for our former pope, Pope Francis, commending him to God’s mercy, through the intercession of the Mother of God, for whom he had such a strong devotion. Please join me in prayer:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Next, we pray for our new pope, and those who will elect him, whoever he might be:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
