The Nicene Creed has shaped our community for 17 centuries. It is a beautiful statement of our core beliefs. Of course, the creed must be put into action, not just recited at Mass. This leads to what you might call our personal creed, the way we live our faith. In his writings and talks Pope Francis helped us understand what it means for the creed to create community.
1. I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth
Pope Francis constantly spoke of our interdependence with creation and urged us to show reverence for the natural world. In Laudato Si’ (2015), he writes: ‘Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves, as a mere setting in which we live’.
2. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ
Pope Francis wanted us not just to know about Jesus but actually to encounter Jesus. Jesus does not call us to theories or ideologies but to an authentic relationship. ‘Christ showed the depth of his love for us not by lengthy explanations but by concrete actions.’ Dilexit Nos (2024)
3. Through him all things were made
Pope Francis had a vision of the whole of creation, not just one small, safe part of it. ‘You have to go to the edges of existence if you want to see the world as it is.’ Let us dream (2020)
4. He came down from heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit
Pope Francis knew that Christian faith walks the earth. It is a journey of ‘discovering Christ in each human being, recognising him crucified in the sufferings of the abandoned and forgotten of our world.’ Fratelli Tutti (2020)
5. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate
Time and again, Pope Francis asked us to be present to the passion of Jesus. He had said: ‘Dear young friends, the beauty of Christ crucified is the great paradox of our faith. It is the beauty of a love that gives itself completely to you and me, to each and every one of us. It is the beauty of a love that bears the marks of our wounds.’ World Youth Day 2023
6. The third day he rose again
Hope was the great theme of the work of Pope Francis. When so many turn to anger and despair, Pope Francis called us to a hope founded on the life of the risen Lord. ‘Jesus broke through the darkness of the tomb and lives forever. . . . With him, every day becomes a step in an eternal journey, every today can hope for a tomorrow, every end a new beginning, every instant is projected beyond the limits of time, toward eternity.’ Easter 2024
7. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life
Pope Francis often spoke about ‘discernment’, trying to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than our own self-interest. ‘Brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit, who in the beginning transformed chaos into cosmos, is at work to bring about this transformation in every person.’ Homily 2024
8. I believe in one holy Catholic Church
For Pope Francis, the Church was a place of vulnerability to reality. He loved the words of the composer Mahler: ‘tradition is not the worship of ashes; it is the preservation of fire.’ He said: ‘I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.’ Evangelii Gaudium (2013)
9. We look forward to the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come
Pope Francis was wary of the denial of death implicit in a consumeristic and feel-good culture. Death is an experience we share with the whole human family. It is a stage on the journey to experience God’s mercy and compassion. May God welcome him to his eternal home.
Michael McGirr is the mission facilitator of Caritas Australia.