Pope Francis: A gift from God for our time
Monday, April 13, 2026
*Deacon Edgardo Farias
To speak about Pope Francis’ pontificate now, on the one-year anniversary of his departure on April 21, is not simply recalling a date, but recognizing a gift—a true gift from God to the Church and to the contemporary world.
Since that historic March 13, 2013, when he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with a simple “Brothers and sisters, good evening,” the world has sensed that something new was beginning. It was not a rupture, but a profound return to the heart of the Gospel: closeness, mercy, and the tenderness of God.
A shepherd with the smell of the sheep
Pope Francis has concretely embodied the image of a shepherd who knows his people, who walks with them, and who is not afraid to get his feet dirty in the peripheries of the world. His call for a Church “that goes forth” is not merely a pastoral theory, but a way of life that he himself has lived with coherence.
He has brought the Church to places we often preferred not to see: prisons, hospitals, refugee camps, and the frontiers of human suffering. There, his presence has been a visible sign of Christ’s love, reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
I had the grace of personally greeting Pope Francis following his address to participants in the International Meeting for Regional and National Leaders of Prison Pastoral Care, held in the Clementine Hall on November 8, 2019. During that encounter—together with fellow pastoral leaders from around the world—what stood out was not only what he had said, but who he was: simple, attentive, and profoundly human. He took the time to greet each of us, embodying the very closeness he constantly calls the Church to live.
In that same address, he reminded us of the heart of this ministry:
“Prison pastoral care is a sign of Christ’s mercy for those who are often forgotten by society.”
This was not simply a statement—it was a pastoral mandate. It confirmed in a profound way that no one, especially those deprived of freedom, is forgotten in the heart of the Church.
The face of the Second Vatican Council made flesh
To truly understand his pontificate, it is essential to view it in light of the Second Vatican Council. He did not simply quote the Council; he embodied it.
The Second Vatican Council described the Church as the People of God: missionary, dialogical, close to humanity, and committed to the joys and hopes of the world. Pope Francis has made this conciliar vision visible through concrete actions:
- A Church that listens before judging
- A Church that accompanies before condemning
- A Church that heals before demanding
In him, the Second Vatican Council ceased to be merely a document and became living flesh.
The revolution of mercy
If his pontificate could be summarized in one word, it would be mercy.
From the proclamation of the Jubilee of Mercy to his constant calls to forgive, reconcile, and welcome, Pope Francis has reminded us that the heart of Christianity is love, not law.
In a world marked by polarization, judgment, and exclusion, his voice has been prophetic. “Who am I to judge?” was not an offhand remark, but an echo of the Gospel inviting us to see others with the eyes of Christ.
A simple, human, and close Church
Perhaps one of Pope Francis’ greatest gifts has been restoring a deeply human face to the Church. His simplicity, direct language, and spontaneous gestures have brought the Christian message closer to millions—even to those who once felt distant.
He has taught us that the greatness of the Church lies not in power, but in service; not in apparent perfection, but in the ability to love amid our fragilities.
A legacy for the future
The legacy of Pope Francis is not measured only in documents or reforms, but in a transformation of hearts. He has challenged us to leave our comfort zones, to encounter human suffering, and to live an incarnate faith.
He leaves us with a mission: to be a Church unafraid to love, unafraid to take risks, unafraid to appear weak before the world—because it is precisely there that the strength of God is revealed.
On this anniversary, more than remembering, we are called to continue.
Pope Francis has undoubtedly been a gift from God for our time: a shepherd who has read the signs of the times with an evangelical vision; a credible witness of mercy, and a bridge between the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and the challenges of today’s world.
Now, the question is for us:
Are we willing to live what he has taught us?
Because his greatest legacy lies not in what he said… but in what he invites us to become.
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