Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends of Fordham,

We have a new Pope, a Jesuit Pope, and remarkably, he has chosen the name Francis, recalling the great saint of the 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi. Jesuits and Franciscans, truth be told, have not always gotten along well with each other. There were theological controversies, and the Pope who suppressed the Society of Jesus in the 18th century was a Franciscan. Now is certainly the time for peace and healing within the church and throughout the world.

The words of St. Francis are as true today as when they were written long ago:

"You must have peace in your hearts. Let no one be provoked to anger or scandal by you, but may they be drawn to peace and good will, to kindness and concord through your gentleness. We have been called to heal wounds, to bring together what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way."
from the writings of St. Francis of Assisi

Let's continue to pray for Pope Francis that he might successfully bring the message of his namesake to our troubled Catholic Church and our troubled world, and that the message be heard and acted upon.

With my own prayers for your peace and well-being,
Dan Gatti, S.J., FCRH '65, GSE '66