catholic | The Tony Burgess Blog

The College of Cardinals is sequestered and are beginning their work of choosing the 267th Pope who will lead the Catholic Church. Now the faithful and the curious are looking at a chimney that is coming out of the Sistine Chapel. They have had one vote and that chimney was blowing black smoke, meaning they have more votes to come. It will be interesting to see who they select. Right now, God only knows.

Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals are gathering on the first day of the conclave, indicating that a successor of late Pope Francis was not elected, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Courtesy of (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Today is a day we recognize the resurrection of Jesus, as we have done in years past. However, in light of all the chaos we are seeing in the world, perhaps it’s necessary to be mindful that extravagant and sacrificial love that was shown three days earlier was for everyone, everywhere, throughout time and memorial.

Jesus was about liberation, love, and life everlasting. Jesus was about liberation, love, and life everlasting. He also lived for and loved the immigrant, the LGBTQ person, the person working two jobs to make ends meet, the veteran with scars we cannot see, the visitors, the huddled masses yearning for freedom, the sick, the widow, the orphan, the student, and many more.

I believe that the power of Jesus is about the power of love born from sacrifice and death, which no longer has sting. It’s never been about power or privilege, it’s always about loving our neighbors as ourselves and doing it the best we can as long as we can.