Father Eric de la Pena: “You must strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:32)

These parting words of Christ to St. Peter at the Last Supper sound much like a parent’s entrustment of the younger siblings to the eldest brother who will see to it that the house is kept in good order while the parents are away. This task must have felt like an overwhelming burden to Peter had Our Lord not first assured him of divine help from above: “I have prayed that your own faith may not fail.” This “burden” that was given at the first Eucharist was certainly assumed by Peter and those successors after him, with some of them even shedding blood for the sake of the flock.

Father Eric de la Pena

Our present Pope Francis is no less thoughtful in living up to Christ’s word. At 78 and with only one functioning lung, the first Latino pope has already made nine pastoral visitations around the globe. His visit to CUA in September will be the 11th apostolic journey in the short span of his tenure since he was elected on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, much like his predecessor St. Peter, does not hesitate to meet the people where they are — even in dangerous conditions. The Pope understands quite well the real hunger that is out there for people to hear the Gospel, which is the living word of Christ — the bread “falling from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4).

At Campus Ministry, we are already buoyed up at the prospect of encountering the Holy Father in our midst. We are certainly privileged as a pontifical university to receive papal visitations — both in the past and now in the present — but hopefully we also recognize that with such great privilege also comes responsibility. The proud name we carry as The Catholic University of America challenges us to mirror in ourselves the very identity and mission of the name we bear. The papal visit in September indubitably prompts everyone to ponder once again the significance of identifying ourselves as Catholics — in the truest sense.

As Jesus gave Peter the task of strengthening his brothers, we too share in that task along with Pope Francis. We have already heard the Holy Father enjoin us many times: You must care for your brothers and sisters, especially those who are most in need, those who cry out in pain, those who go astray, and truly, those whom God has placed within your reach. This is part of our identity as Catholics — not only to see the Pope as our leader but to find ourselves working alongside him.

— Father Eric de la Pena, O.F.M. Conv., is an associate chaplain for faith development at The Catholic University of America.