In the Presence of Humility: Remembering Pope Francis

“At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.” Vatican News

Another bright light has dimmed in this fast-darkening world.

My personal connection to Pope Francis spans nearly two decades, thanks to longstanding family acquaintances. Over the years, I was fortunate to meet him multiple times and to feel both his direct and indirect support and blessings. Each encounter left a lasting impression—not just because of his position, but because of the man he was.

What always struck me most was his simplicity and humility. In my humble opinion, his 12 years, 1 month, and 2 days as Pope brought about some of the most far-reaching and compassionate changes I’ve witnessed from the Church in my lifetime.

He showed the world what moral leadership rooted in love truly looks like. I am just writing from my personal memory of his actions, which I remember at this moment and that impacted me the most:

• Through Laudato Si’, he gave voice to the urgency of protecting our environment and played an active role in shaping the Paris Agreement.

• He opened the Church’s arms wider than ever, embracing people regardless of their background, faith, origin, or sexuality. His messages echoed what I believe to be the original, inclusive teachings of Jesus Christ more than anything we’ve seen in recent centuries.

• He spoke out—fearlessly, but never angrily—against tyranny and oppression. He pleaded for peace, especially in moments like his heartfelt appeal to President Putin to end the unjust war.

• He stood up for Palestinian refugees and consistently advocated for the marginalized.

• He defended science and promoted fact-based teachings. He emphasized that faith and science can coexist harmoniously, both serving humanity.

And through it all, he remained strikingly unpolitical—always speaking from the heart, with the intention of healing, not dividing.

May God give his successor the strength to carry forward this light—to walk in love, uphold truth, and foster unity, just as Pope Francis so beautifully did.

Written By: Ben Banerjee