“El Señor nunca se cansa de perdonar. Somos nosotros quienes nos cansamos de pedir perdón. Un poco de misericordia hace el mundo menos frío y más justo.” -Papa Francisco
“The Lord never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness. A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” –Pope Francis
April 21, 2025, marks a devastating loss for the Catholic Church, the global community, and the millions of people who looked up to the humble and transformative leader, Pope Francis. As the world mourns his loss, we reflect on the legacy he leaves behind. His passing not only marks the end of his papacy, but also the beginning of a new light in the Catholic Church as he influenced global understanding of social justice, inequality, and solidarity while representing a deeply traditional institution through his words and actions.
The son of Italian immigrants, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the first Latin American Pope and quickly became a beacon of hope for many. He shed light on marginalized communities, leading his papacy with humility and a progressive approach to some of the most pressing issues facing the world today. Since the start of his papacy, he demonstrated his humility by refusing to live in lavish papal apartments, instead choosing a modest guesthouse. During Holy Week, he washed and kissed the feet of prisoners to show solidarity and serve others with compassion.
Preaching Through Action
Pope Francis saw the real-world suffering caused by inequality, war, and climate change. He pushed the Church to help and accompany people through their struggles rather than preach from a distance. He used his platform to address disputes of climate change and labor injustice. According to a study by Edward Maibach, “About one in six Americans say the Pope’s position on global warming has affected their own views on the issue”(Maibach, 2015).
Of course, his advocacy did not end there. He called out unethical labor practices in the global economy, such as the exploitation of workers and unfair wages, emphasizing the need to put the economy at the service of the people. As scholar Thomas Massaro notes, Pope Francis’ approach was radical in its clarity. No one should be excluded. Not by poverty, not by race, not by gender, not by sexual orientation. Massaro explains , “Francis recognizes the prevailing lack of commitment to the well-being of workers as egregious exploitation and as a violation of proper principles of labor relations, and he is not afraid to call it by its name.”
What He Leaves Behind
His humble actions showed he was going to lead one of the most public-spirited and philanthropic papacies in modern history. Pope Francis challenged the Church to think outside the box. As a non-practicing Catholic, I didn’t expect to be so moved by his passing, but looking back at his legacy, I understand why. I’ve often struggled with the Church’s stance on societal issues and most especially people who use it as an excuse to justify exclusion and intolerance. His pastoral vision wasn’t abstract, he took action. Pope Francis may not have been a perfect Pope, but he was undeniably the most human.
Maibach, Edward W. The Francis Effect: How Pope Francis Changed the Conversation About Global Warming. 2 Nov. 2015. SSRN, https://ssrn.com/abstract=2695199. Accessed 1 May 2025.
Massaro, Thomas J. Pope Francis on Overcoming Exclusion: A Theological Vision with Economic and Social Implications. Orbis Books, 2018, p. 20.
Francisco, Papa. “Busquemos ser una Iglesia que encuentra caminos nuevos.” La Civiltà Cattolica, Sept. 2013.
