This was a podcast that featured two well-known American priests – one a Jesuit and the other a Franciscan friar. Both are eloquent speakers and inspiring writers. The Jesuit happened to be Gregory Boyle, SJ (Greg), the famous founder of Homeboy Industries, which is the world’s largest gang intervention programme. Greg’s ministry for the gang members for more than thirty years has given a new life to thousands of these youth, caught in a vicious web of poverty, lack of education, violence, drugs, jail or death. The Franciscan happened to be Richard Rohr, OFM (Richard), the well-known writer, speaker and spiritual guide.
The podcast took place a few days after Pope Francis died. Therefore the host says, “I’d love to ask you both about Pope Francis, whom we lost this week. He’s no longer walking with us on this earthly plane but has joined the cloud of witnesses. He was a Jesuit who had the aroma of a Franciscan.”
Then he turns to Greg and asks, “Greg, what was it about Pope Francis that most inspired or impacted you?” Greg says, “When he began his papacy, Whoopi Goldberg (the famous Afro-American actress of the Sister Act fame) said, “He’s going with the original program.” There was this acknowledgment: a return to the Gospel, a stance on the margins, with the poor and powerless. And that’s the original program. I always liked that.”
To the same question Richard replies, “All that has been on my mind is how will we ever match him again? … As radical as he was, while holding a sacral, high-priest role—it’s a rare combination. And he did it without arrogance. With this calm certitude: this is the original program. We don’t explain or apologize – we implement. He implemented the Gospel.”
Greg says, “For me Pope Francis always meant a return to the marrow of the Gospel. He uses that phrase. When I get caught in observance or adherence, that invitation back to the marrow is powerful.”
It is an article in this issue of INI that reminded me of this podcast. Shailendra Boora, SJ, in his tribute to Pope Francis, says, “The values of St Francis of Assisi – poverty, humility, peace, and care for creation – echoed Ignatius’s call to indifference, mission to the margins, and finding God in all things.”
Another article, by Francis P. Xavier, SJ, explains how St. Ignatius and the Ignatian pedagogy can be effectively used by Jesuit Business Management Schools. Cedric Prakash, SJ asserts that the cry of the earth is the cry of the poor. Justice for the poor demands justice for our planet earth. Errol Fernandes, SJ, the Scripture scholar, analyses Annotation 23 in the Spiritual Exercise of St. Ignatius, titled “The Principle and Foundation.” He explains what the triple purpose of life it provides could mean. In his report on the Stan Swamy Day – 2025, Santhanam Arockiasamy, SJ points out how the anniversary of the Jesuit social activist who spent his life for the poor tribal people of Chottanagpur is galvanizing people in both the secular and religious realms.
We are happy to release this issue of INI on a day, when we, here in India, celebrate both the freedom won by Mother India from her British colonizers and the freedom won by Mother Mary from death and corruption.
Happy Independence Day!
Happy Feast of Mary’s Assumption!
– M.A. Joe Antony, SJ