Habemus Papam to a life of grace: My journey with Pope Francis’s papacy

On March 13, 2013, the world witnessed a moment of profound surprise and change within the Catholic Church. That evening, as I was at De Nobili College (DNC), Cyril Desbruslais, S.J., a professor of philosophy, knocked on my door and announced, “Habemus Papam”. We rushed to the television, where Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran declared that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, had been elected Pope, taking the name Francis. The news that he was a Jesuit astonished us. Little did we know that this man would bring a fresh spirit to the papacy.

 

My meeting with Pope Francis: A moment of grace

 

Years later, on December 14, 2022, I finally had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis in person. Introducing myself as a Jesuit pursuing a PhD in Christological studies of Christian Muslim dialogue warmed him. He encouraged me with the smiling word, “Bravo”. He spoke to me with affection. He encouraged me about my work. He blessed a stole for Jubin, my brother, who would be ordained on December 28, 2022. He also prayed for our families. This brief meaningful interaction confirmed what I had long admired about Francis: authenticity, deep spirituality, and unwavering commitment to living out the Gospel. His simplicity and humility were tangible.

 

Passion and simplicity

 

Pope Francis’s papal ministry was rooted in Jesus’s simplicity, as he asked for the blessing of the people before he blessed them. After his election, he travelled with cardinals on a bus, paid his hotel bill, and carried his little suitcase while travelling. His lifestyle mirrored this simplicity, from choosing to live in Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace, to his modest attire and simple vestments for the liturgy without using a golden chain or red shoes. For Francis, Jesus’s birth in a manger reflected God’s divine style, which is marked by simplicity rather than grandeur. Bergoglio always emphasised Christ’s humility through his papacy.

 

Synodality: Walking together as a Church

 

One of Pope Francis’s most significant contributions was his emphasis on synodality and listening. It was rooted in the apostolic tradition, and we read it in the Acts of the Apostles chapter 15, where Peter, the first pope, listens to Paul, an apostle of gentiles. It is a teaching that enables the Church to walk together as a Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Pope saw synodality as a governance model and an essential expression of communion within the Church as the Body of Christ. Therefore, he included clerics and lay as part of voters in the synod of synodality. This approach reflected his belief in collegiality and inclusivity. It also aligned with the vision of Vatican II. By fostering dialogue and participation among entire Christian communities, which includes bishops, clergy, laity, and non-Catholics, the Pope revitalised the Church’s mission in the modern world.

 

Vatican II: Ressourcement and Aggiornamento

 

Pope Francis’s theology was deeply influenced by Vatican II’s dual principles of ressourcement, the French word meaning returning to original sources and aggiornamento, the Italian word meaning updating. Therefore, the Pope called for a Church rooted in apostolic traditions and responsive to contemporary challenges. He was reforming ecclesiastical structures that reflect this updating balance with the original sources. By emphasising Jesus as the foundation of faith, Francis sought to move away from legalism and triumphalism toward a more pastoral and compassionate Church.

 

Preferential option for the poor

 

Pope Francis’s vision of the preferential option for the poor was a principle idea spoken so much by the Jesuits in General Congregation 32, of which Francis was also a member. He frequently reminded Christians that serving the poor is not optional but integral to their faith. Whether addressing economic inequality or advocating for systemic change, Francis challenged individuals and institutions to prioritise the needs of society’s most vulnerable members. His actions—such as establishing showers for homeless people near St. Peter’s Basilica with the help of the Jesuit Curia—spoke louder than words.

 

The spirit of Jesuits: Men for others

 

As a Jesuit, Pope Francis embodied the Ignatian spirit of being “men for others”. His leadership reflected key themes from Ignatian spirituality, including discernment, mission to the peripheries, and service for God’s greater glory. He often recalled St. Ignatius’s call to find God in all things and Jerome Nadal’s assertion that “the whole world is our home”. This universal outlook toward the poor underpined his efforts to engage with diverse cultures and contexts while remaining faithful to Christ.

 

Pope Francis was an outspoken advocate for migrants and refugees. He described their rejection as a “grave sin.” The Pope exhorted nations to provide safe migrant routes and fight human trafficking. His dedication to solidarity with displaced persons was shown by his visits to refugee camps, personal gestures, and bringing refugees to Rome. He believed that refugees and migrants are the cause of war and poverty. He also called every Sunday to a parish in Gaza, where Christians and Muslims were sheltered due to war.

 

The man of dialogue

 

Francis took significant steps to foster interfaith dialogue among all religions, even among Indigenous people. He described Judaism as Christianity’s elder sibling in faith and said, “We, Jews and Catholics, share priceless spiritual treasures.” Similarly, he engaged extensively with Muslim communities, emphasising mutual respect and collaboration. His historic meeting with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi and signing of the “human fraternity document” on February 4, 2019, led to a groundbreaking gesture of dialogue.

 

Pope Francis was deeply committed to ecumenism and maintained close ties with leaders like Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople, Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. He included 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs who were executed by ISIS on a beach in Libya in 2015 into the Catholic Liturgical calendar. His suggestion to celebrate Easter on a common day reflected his desire to promote Church unity.

 

The man of care and peace

 

In his encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis urged urgent action to save the planet Earth. He framed environmental stewardship as a moral imperative rooted in respect for God’s creation and highlighted how environmental issues disproportionately affected the poor by linking ecological degradation with social injustice.

 

Francis consistently condemned war as contrary to the “will of God”. He criticised both Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Western nations’ arms trade policies. He rebuked Patriarch Kirill’s support for Russia’s actions. The Pope demonstrated his courage to challenge even any religious or political leaders, where once he dared to challenge Trump, saying that the one who builds walls is not Christian.

 

On the Israel-Palestine war, Pope Francis advocated for peace through dialogue and supported a two-state solution that respected the rights of both peoples because the common people are the victims of both sides. Pope Francis always took a balanced approach. He sought justice while promoting reconciliation between conflicting parties.

 

A Pope who surprises

 

Pope Francis surprised us with his authenticity and courage, from his election night gesture of bowing before blessing the crowd to his daily acts of compassion. For me—and countless others—he represented hope in a world often marked by division and despair. Meeting him was not just an encounter with a global leader but an experience of grace that deepened my faith and inspired me to follow Christ more closely.

 

The writer, a member of the Jesuit Kerala Province, is a researcher at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

World