Pope Francis' Impact and Jesuit Reflections
In a somber tone, the world bid farewell to Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, as he passed away at the age of 86 in Vatican City's Saint Martha House. The news of his death struck billions of people across the globe, leaving a profound impact on the Catholic Church and beyond.
Following his passing, Vincent Rougeau, President of Boston College, emphasized several major social causes and legacies that define the late pontiff's enduring impact.
Pope Francis' legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to economic justice and inclusion. He championed the ancient principle of the universal destination of goods, emphasizing that Earth's goods are meant for all humanity, especially the poor and marginalized. His call for a more just and inclusive economy is central to his teaching and Catholic social doctrine.
Climate action and care for creation were also integral to Pope Francis's vision. His encyclical, Laudato Si’, was a pivotal document linking ecological concerns with social justice. He framed climate change mitigation as a social challenge involving sustainable production and consumption, social norms, and policy reforms.
Solidarity with the poor and marginalized was another cornerstone of Pope Francis's papacy. Drawing from his experiences in Argentina, he consistently centered the Church’s mission around solidarity with the poor, refugees, asylum seekers, and socially excluded. He pushed the Church toward participatory processes ("synodality") and dialogue not only within Christianity but across religions and philosophies, aiming to unite people of goodwill to address global inequalities and injustices.
Peace and conflict mediation were also key aspects of Pope Francis's work. He worked to mediate conflicts worldwide, promoting peace and reconciliation, including efforts related to Ukraine.
Pope Francis's most important legacy may be his strenuous efforts to reorient globalization towards promoting well-being for all rather than wealth accumulation for a few. He insisted that this is not utopian but a Gospel demand, inspiring ongoing movements for a more equitable global economic order.
In addition, Pope Francis revitalized the Catholic Church's social relevance by encouraging engagement with urgent global issues and fostering dialogue across faiths and with secular entities. His focus on the marginalized gave new strength and dignity to many, including religious women and those on society’s margins.
His moral and intellectual contributions helped mainstream the social dimensions of climate change mitigation into global policymaking, making his voice a significant force beyond religious contexts.
Mark Kennedy Shriver '86, president of Save the Children Action Network and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, has written a book about Pope Francis's life, titled "Pilgrimage: My Search for the Real Pope Francis". The book was discussed by Shriver in the Hogan Ballroom.
On campus, the community mourned the loss of Pope Francis, finding meaning in this hardship and praying for peace in the world. A daily Mass was held for Pope Francis in Mary Chapel at 12:05pm on Friday, April 25. On Sunday, following the 11:30 Mass, a prayer of the rosary was offered in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. At 5pm on the same day, another prayer of the rosary was held in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel.
President Rougeau released a statement on Pope Francis's death, calling him humble, courageous, and committed. He urged the campus community to reflect on the meaning of Pope Francis's papacy and find ways to honor his memory through social change.
In an opinion piece by Grace Manning '21, she discusses the struggles of many Catholics of her generation to find reasons to be proud of their religion. In another opinion piece, she discusses the pairing of religion and basketball as a positive change.
On Thursday, April 24, a Jesuits' Mass of Thanksgiving for the life of Pope Francis was livestreamed in Campion House. The Easter Season is filled with hope, charity, and new beginnings, and the Catholic Church is facing a new kind of grief following Pope Francis's death. However, the community should find meaning in this hardship and pray for peace in the world.
- Vincent Rougeau, President of Boston College, emphasized the impact of Pope Francis's legacy in shaping economic justice and inclusion, placing Earth's goods at the service of all humanity, particularly the poor and marginalized.
- Pope Francis's focus on climate action and care for creation is evident in the pivotal encyclical, Laudato Si’, where he links ecological concerns with social justice, advocating for sustainable practices, social norms, and policy reforms.
- Solidarity with the poor and marginalized was essential to Pope Francis's papacy. He centered the Church's mission around solidarity with the poor, refugees, asylum seekers, and socially excluded, fostering participatory processes and dialogues to address global inequalities and injustices.
- Mark Kennedy Shriver '86, president of Save the Children Action Network, wrote a book about Pope Francis's life titled "Pilgrimage: My Search for the Real Pope Francis," discussing his contributions and impact on global policies, particularly issue-based engagement and collaboration with secular entities.
- The campus community mourned the loss of Pope Francis, finding meanings in the hardship, praying for peace in the world, and engaging in various prayer services such as daily Mass, prayer of the rosary, and the Jesuits' Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Francis. Additionally, student Grace Manning '21 expressed her opinions on the struggles of her generation to find reasons to be proud of their religion in an opinion piece, reflecting on the significance of Pope Francis in shaping religion and social change.
