Pope Francis died this morning, April 21, the day after Resurrection Sunday, 2025. Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York was interviewed soon after the news came out. He took the opportunity to share our gospel hope from 1 Peter 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,”

Dolan highlighted the grace of God in allowing Pope Francis’ final act on earth to be the proclamation of the hope we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ: for all who believe in Him, Jesus shares His victory over sin and death.

As evangelicals, two of our commonalities with the Roman Church are our proclamation of the gospel of God’s divine mercy for sinners, something Pope Francis was known for preaching, and our belief in the divine authority of the Bible as God’s word. Our only hope in life and death is that Jesus has been crucified for our sins and has been raised from the dead for our justification. Our faith unites us with Christ, with His death to sin and His resurrection to righteousness.

Where we will respectfully part ways is what Cardinal Dolan said next. He went on to explain the period of mourning for Roman Catholics after the death of their Holy Father is like their family has lost their dad. The phrase they use for this period, when no pope sits in the seat of Peter (considered to be the first bishop of Rome and first pope), is sede vancate, “the seat is vacant”.

I want to respond, “There is no vacancy in the seat of authority for the Church.” The leader of any church movement does become like a dad to those who follow his leadership. And mourning the loss of that leader is appropriate. But ultimately, we do not follow any human leader as our authoritative head. Jesus Christ is head of the church.

Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Paul says God the Father “seated [Christ] at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:20-23).”

Community of Grace is one congregation of the body of Christ on earth. Our desire is to make Jesus the head of our church in every way we know how. We follow where He leads. We make disciples that know and follow Him. We teach everyone to obey everything He commanded us. We listen to the voice of the Spirit Jesus sent to teach, guide, and strengthen us. We seek Him in prayer before we make any decision. We study His words to know His mind. We seek His glory.

We pray that the Roman church will establish a new leader who knows and follows Jesus Christ. But our ultimate trust is that Jesus Christ is alive and working in our lives and the lives of people all around us. We minister His presence and grace to our world under His authority. We are His ambassadors. We would not replace Him, and He would not abdicate anyway. The seat is not vacant. Praise the Lord.