By now I am sure everyone is aware of the death of Pope Francis. Francis was the Pope who was known for many “firsts.” First of all, he was the first Pope to represent the Americas, being Argentinian. He was also the first Jesuit Pope, and the first to take the name of Francis (Francis of Assisi). But he was so much more.

What are people saying about Pope Francis? Interestingly, I first heard about the Pope’s death from my Hindu friend in India, who heard the news before I was awake. And then today, I rode to Mass this morning, on the Feast Day of Saint Catherine of Siena who was advisor to Pope Gregory XI, taking a Lyft to church. My Lyft driver, a Baptist-raised convert to Lutheranism, and I talked about Pope Francis and the great impact he had on not just Catholics, but the whole world. His deep humility and openness to the entire world made him well-loved by a wide variety of people. On my return trip my driver and I shared experiences with the LGBTQ community, and I left her with Pope Francis’s famous words, “Who am I to judge?” 

Father Alan Deck, a Jesuit, who taught me in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program in the Archdiocese of Las Vegas twenty years ago, had these word to say about his fellow Jesuit, Pope Francis, “It was a time of seemingly endless change that marked his early religious formation.” Perhaps that is why he was so open to a changing world and wanted to make sure that change was for the better.

Archbishop George Leo Thomas, of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, said, “Much of the future Pope’s spirituality and his identity with the suffering and struggles of people were formed in this crucible of conflict, cultural upheaval, civil unrest, and personal rejection.

The Dalai Lama, the Buddhist leader said in a statement from his base in exile in India, expressing his sadness at the loss of Pope Francis, said, "Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others... consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life. The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can."

Some of the things I personally remember is that on his first Holy Thursday as Pope, he put aside the former practice of previous Popes of washing the feet of priests, to go into a Roman prison and wash the feet of men and women prisoners, kissing each foot while kneeling before the most outcast people in our society. I also remember the time he was interrupted during one of his public addresses by a young girl who was differently-abled, and instead of sending her back to her parents, he sat her on his chair and held her hand.

These were touching moments, teaching moments, showing us how Christ himself devoted himself to the poor and outcasts of society. But he also was a brilliant theologian. His famous encyclicals and other writings included Evangelii Gaudium—The Joy of the Gospel, Laudato Si—Praised Be to You, On the Care of Creation, Fratelli Tutti—On Fraternity and Social Friendship, and Dilexit Nos--On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. In many of his writings, he begins by quoting his namesake, Francis of Assisi, who shared his love for the Gospel, his humility, and his care for all creation. I highly encourage you to read his encyclicals. His last encyclical touched me because of his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I also have done much work with the Catholic Climate Covenant and other groups sharing Laudato Si with various groups. This year I will be doing a Day of Reflection on Oct 4, Saint Francis of Assisi Day and sharing with my Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in September of “The Francis Factor—Two Men Who Helped Shape the Church—Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis.

I know that these two men have helped my spiritual formation, and I believe, no matter what religion you are, as Pope Francis famously said, “All religions are a path to God.” I am currently working on my latest book, Franciscan Spirituality in World Religions, so if you have a devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and would like to contribute to my book, do let me know.