As we join the world in prayers of thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Pope Francis, Catholic Extension Society shares tributes from a special group of Catholic leaders whose service was near to Pope Francis’ heart. They are leaders in our country serving the suffering and those on “the peripheries.”
Pope Francis said,
The sick, the vulnerable and the poor are at the heart of the Church; they must also be at the heart of our human concern and pastoral attention.”
We asked Church leaders whose ministries and education we support a simple question: What did Pope Francis mean to you?
For many, Pope Francis was not a distant leader. He was close to their hearts just as they were close to his. He changed the way they thought about themselves. And he inspired the way they carried out their ministries in the Church.
The reflections from various Catholic leaders below are just a handful of examples of how the beloved pope’s life and legacy left a mark on them and the communities they serve.
Here are just a few of their heartfelt reflections on Pope Francis:
Catholic sisters
“For me, Pope Francis represented God’s mercy in action. His pontificate was a new step for God in our history. His smile, his closeness, his tender and transparent gaze, his love, his words—they were nothing other than God incarnated in the goodness of a simple man, permanently open to the action of the Spirit within him.”
“For me, he represented an excellent human being, the shepherd who accompanied and walked alongside his poor and wounded people. A shepherd with the scent of sheep. A humble pastor who builds me up with his example. He strengthens and encourages my vocation, knowing that it is possible to follow Jesus in the simple things.”
“A living instrument and witness of faith and love in the Church, he spoke the truth to everyone. Pope Francis, a man of mercy and humble and simple commitment. A new Francis of Assisi who reaches the heart of all creation.”
“He always found Jesus in the poor, marginalized, migrants, and elderly. The poor occupy a very important place in the heart of Jesus and so they must be in ours.”
Priests and deacons
“Pope Francis teaches us as missionaries to not only walk with lay people, but to listen to, and to learn from them, just as Jesus did.”
“From the time the white smoke came, and he took the name Francis, I knew it was Godly. He reached out to ALL people. He reached out to those and especially people of color, and it was a beautiful thing for me. I loved him.”
“Pope Francis was an example of inclusion and mercy in the church as Jesus taught us. … Obviously, I’m so proud of him being the first Latin American Pope.”
“Pope Francis visited my country, Myanmar, on November 27-29, 2017, the first time ever from the beginning of the Church. The people of Myanmar love him and miss him a lot. His visit to our country became a change and a blessing for the Catholics in Myanmar.”
Lay women in the Church
In “Querida Amazonía,” Pope Francis wrote that “for centuries, women have kept the Church alive in those places through their remarkable devotion and deep faith.”
Catholic Extension seeks to nurture and deepen the evangelizing power of women, through a special program called Mujer Valiente (valiant woman), which offers leadership training and a supportive network of Latina women of faith from dioceses around the country.
Here are the responses from just a few participants of the program, who certainly felt seen and empowered by the late Holy Father:
“For me, Pope Francis was a great human being—a great man, a great brother, a great father to each one of us.”
He broke with power and formality and showed us that faith is not about sitting on a throne, but about going out and seeking the poor and most excluded.
He promoted synodality, where all—lay people, religious, women, and young people—have a voice on the journey of faith.”
Elvira Hernandez Pina, Diocese of Savannah, Georgia
“For me, Pope Francis was the hug or embrace of Christ around his people, and the entire world. The Holy Father did not hold back in sharing his gifts with us, and bravely, too. Along with those beautiful gifts, I am inspired by Pope Francis’s faithfulness, good humor, and joy, to love and serve the Lord.”
“For me, Pope Francis was a good shepherd, father, and friend. …His passing hurts deeply, but we are grateful for his life and all that he leaves us.”
Sandra Medina, Diocese of Houma-Thibodeaux, Louisiana
The following Catholic lay woman leaders are supported by Catholic Extension Society through other programs and initiatives:
“The voice of Pope Francis in defense of the most vulnerable children will endure in the hearts of those who refuse to be indifferent.”
“His first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, was a breath of fresh air for me. It taught me that the true joy of a Christian is born from the encounter with Jesus and from going out to meet others. I fell in love with that image of a “Church that goes forth”: not a Church closed in on itself, but a field hospital Church that welcomes, embraces, and is not afraid to get messy As a woman, his legacy leaves me with a deep certainty: I must not be afraid to listen to God’s voice and respond from the truth of who I am, because in my womanhood, I am a gift to my Church and to the world.”
“When Pope Francis was appointed as leader of the Catholic Church, just hearing his voice inspired me. And then observing how he moved among the people, talking, touching, showing love and care for everybody… he was a true people person.”
“He didn’t care what color or where you came from. He was such a simple man, not one that needed anything extra. He walked among the people. He wanted to show the love and goodness that the Lord showed him, and that’s what he showed ME, and what he wanted us to live by. I try to live by that. I’m here to help my community in the same way, that’s what he meant to me.”
Young adult Leaders
“On a personal level, Pope Francis leaves an incomparable mark, having visited the border where I live, a place wounded by violence, corruption, and the injustice surrounding forced migration. He came as a missionary of hope, mercy, and conversion.”
“I have seen many pictures of Pope Francis’ smile. I have come to the realization that “youth” is not an age, but rather an expression of joy that is given to an individual by Christ. Pope Francis’ youthful joy was so keenly captured in his manner, his smile, and his service to the poor and marginalized.”
“Pope Francis became Pope just after I returned home to the Church. His emphasis on mercy was healing balm to my heart. I remember hearing Pope Francis’ address at World Youth Day 2016. His words were inspiring and encouraging. He will always be near and dear to my heart.”
“To me, Pope Francis was the Pope of “haciendo lío.” (Making Noise!) Looking back, it’s almost amusing how so many tried to put him into a box, yet no one ever could. He consistently challenged us to go beyond labels and comfort zones. He embodied what the Church is called to be: a Church for all, not beholden to any political ideology, but firmly rooted in the defense of human dignity and the Gospel. He reminded us that our faith isn’t about fitting in, it’s about reaching out.”
Catholic Extension Society is grateful to the leaders who looked into their hearts to express their beautiful reflections on what Pope Francis meant to them. They inspire us each day.
Through our prayerful goodbyes, we thank God for Pope Francis who was so close to our mission and the communities and leaders we support.
