Message from Deacon Paul Falke TOC M.D.

SUMMERTIDE 2025

What do the death of Pope Francis, the new Pope Leo, NATO, and our summer vacation have to do with our lives? 2025 is filled with sorrowful, hopeful, and troubling events that will affect us all to varying degrees. But they will affect us.

I personally experienced the first half of 2025 as a tumultuous period. After 30 years of working for the International Tribunals, I retired. With all human limitations and talents, justice was served there, and justice was done to victims and peoples in conflict zones. Despite all the legal and political wrangling and the difficult conditions in which I worked as a physician, I drew energy from the people I worked with. I miss their dedication. Their pursuit of justice, to do what is right and just, gave me hope.

The fact that international justice is currently under immense pressure worries me. Especially in a world where multiple armed conflicts claim many victims and many displaced people are either fleeing or living in merciless conditions. I don’t know about you, but it sometimes makes me feel hopeless and powerless. And yet, I draw hope from the words of Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” It offers us another perspective. It gives us hope.

I have experienced mercy and hope over the past 12 years through the leadership of Pope Francis. He gave a voice to the vulnerable people in our society. He gave our church a positive image through inclusivity. He made the world our shared responsibility with the image of our common home and the recipe for a holy life. He gave us hope for a better world in difficult times. His illness and death, although expected, caused grief and uncertainty. What now?

The conclave that followed became world news. World leaders traveled to Rome, and we all awaited the white smoke with great anticipation. Who would have thought, 12 years ago during the last conclave, when the Roman Catholic Church seemed marginalized by scandals and a sometimes-misunderstood course. During his papacy, Pope Francis restored trust in the church and the world with his message of Christian mercy and hope.

The choice of Pope Leo was an unexpected and yet welcome outcome of the conclave. However, his résumé and initial appearances are already impressive. He faces the difficult task of continuing the path laid out by his predecessors and contributing to a more peaceful world. And in doing so, he may and will also add his own character. In any case, the character of Evangelical diplomacy, where hope and peace take center stage.

In a few weeks’ time the NATO summit will be held in The Hague. The goal of NATO is peace and security in the world in which we live in. The primary means to achieve this is diplomacy—remaining in dialogue. However, when dialogue breaks down and there is a threat of armed violence, then weapons become the next option to maintain an armed peace, or even to protect peace and security through force.

From a Christian perspective, this is a difficult paradox. Everyone will have their own thoughts about it. In any case, let us pray to God for peace and ask Mary for good counsel.

Now that the summer holidays are approaching, we are making plans to travel, visit family, find rest in sun, sand, and sea—to escape daily worries for a while. And that is important.

But before that, we will celebrate Pentecost together. The Holy Spirit will be sent to us, and we will receive her gifts. Our church building is named after Our Lady of Good Counsel. Good counsel is an important gift of the Holy Spirit. May I add wisdom and understanding—essential to bringing much-needed peace in our world closer.

May we all, in awe of the Lord, enjoy a great summer holiday.