VATICAN CITY โ On Monday, the world bid farewell to Pope Francis, a leader known for his informal and approachable manner of speaking. Throughout his papacy, he frequently blended his native Spanish with the Italian of his Vatican surroundings, creating memorable phrases and words. His tenure was marked by quotes that touched on themes of poverty, mercy, and acceptance.
One of Francisโs first encounters with the public after being elected pope took place on the evening of March 13, 2013. Standing on the balcony of St. Peterโs Basilica, he simply greeted the faithful with, โBrothers and sisters, good evening!โ
A poignant moment came shortly after his election when Francis recounted a significant exchange with Cardinal Claudio Hummes. As the cardinalsโ votes secured his papacy, Cardinal Hummes embraced him and implored, โDonโt forget the poor!โ This prompted Francis to think of St. Francis of Assisi, a figure known for his dedication to peace and the impoverished, which inspired the choice of his papal name. Speaking to journalists on March 16, 2013, he expressed his hope for โa Church which is poor and for the poor.โ
Addressing the virtue of mercy, Francis highlighted its transformative power during his inaugural Angelus prayer on March 17, 2013. Reflecting on a book by Cardinal Kasper, he remarked, โA bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just,โ emphasizing how important compassion is to society.
In a gesture of unity, Francis greeted his predecessor with the words โWe are brothers,โ during his first meeting with Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI on March 23, 2013, at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
Francis quickly became renowned for his inclusive approach, famously responding to a question about a gay priest with, โWho am I to judge?โ This statement, made on July 28, 2013, indicated a more welcoming attitude toward LGBTQ+ Catholics.
The theme of brotherhood surfaced again during the historic first meeting with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 13, 2016, at Havana Airport, where Francis reiterated the bond, โWe are brothers.โ
Francis also encouraged a shift in how the sacraments are perceived, advocating for a compassionate approach. In his encyclical โAmoris Laetitiaโ published on April 8, 2016, he stated, โThe Eucharist โis not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak,โโ while reminding priests that the confessional should be โan encounter with the Lordโs mercy.โ
On a mission to build bridges with the Muslim world, Francis strengthened ties during his meeting with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb on May 23, 2016, at Al-Azhar University. He declared, โThe meeting is the message,โ marking a thaw after years of strained relations.
Throughout his papacy, Francis faced criticism, particularly from conservative American factions. In a response to author Nicholas Senezeโs question aboard his papal plane on September 4, 2019, Francis quipped, โItโs an honor if the Americans attack me,โ reflecting his unruffled stance.
The pandemic posed new challenges, prompting Francis to share an uplifting message during a prayer on March 27, 2020, in St. Peterโs Square. He stated, โWe are all on the same boat, fragile and disoriented, yet important and necessary, all of us called to row together.โ
In a powerful acknowledgment of historical wrongs, Francis apologized on July 25, 2022, for the role of the Church in the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples in Canadian residential schools. He openly asked for forgiveness for the Churchโs complicity in assimilation and cultural destruction.
On January 24, 2023, during an interview, he humorously commented on his native Argentinaโs wealth paired with a unique national character, saying, โTo balance it out, I gave Argentina Argentines,โ underlining the countryโs reputation and pride.
Finally, addressing LGBT rights during a January 2023 interview, Francis spoke against criminalization by stating unequivocally, โBeing homosexual is not a crime,โ advocating for an end to such laws worldwide.