The Legacy of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, history's first pontiff from the Global South, has died at age 88 following a monthslong respiratory illness, setting the stage for a high-stakes secretive election to determine his successor.

We grieve not just the passing of a pope, but the loss of a holy witness who taught us that to see sacramentally is not to withdraw from the world, but to love it more fiercely.

Pope Francis, a transformative figure who revitalized the hopes of millions of Catholics after decades of scandal, stagnation and increasing social irrelevancy for the global church, died April 21. 

In the face of violence, deprivation, suffering and political turmoil, Palestinian Catholic priests offer Palestinian Catholics spiritual support and aid. Pope Francis calls one pastor every night.

In a noisy and busy world, in a time of cultural and political polarization, Pope Francis invited us all to listen to the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit.

While the pope's health struggles have left Carla Rabezzana uneasy, the lack of direct contact has also heightened her anxiety for her beloved cousin, who can "cheer you up with just a few words."