Benedictine University President Joseph J. Foy, PhD, joined millions worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis.
“It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. Pope Francis was a pastor of compassion, humility, and unwavering faith, respected universally by people of many faiths. His death marks the end of an extraordinary papacy that has touched the lives of millions around the globe and graced the Church with a season of unanticipated renewal.
Pope Francis was a beacon of hope, a voice for the marginalized, and a tireless advocate for peace, justice, and care of God’s creation. His papacy revealed to us once again the radical love of Christ, daring us to embrace mercy, to walk with the poor, and to build bridges of understanding in a divided world. No previous pope defended so forcefully the rights of migrants and refugees. Pope Francis’s simplicity challenged us to live the Gospel more authentically, and his words and actions continue to inspire countless individuals to serve others with generosity and joy. The title he gave his autobiography says much about the man: Hope.
Pope Francis was a pope of many firsts. He was the first Jesuit to be elected pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first pope ever to take the name of Francis. Early in his pontificate he earned the moniker “pope of surprises,” and for twelve years it remained an accurate assessment of his unprecedented style and sense of vocation.
As a Catholic university rooted in the Benedictine wisdom tradition, we are deeply connected to Pope Francis’s mission and ministry. St. Benedict, who emphasized prayer, community, and the dignity of work, taught us to seek God in all things and to serve others with empathy. Pope Francis, in his own way, embodied these Benedictine Hallmarks. Singling out the Benedictine tradition in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, he called hospitality a “sacred duty.” His praise for the “art of listening” echoes Benedict’s grounding of the spiritual life in the act of paying attention. Pope Francis’s teachings on education, integral ecology, the harmony of faith and science, and the dignity of every person resonate profoundly with our institution’s core principles. His unwavering dedication to interfaith dialogue reminds us of our special calling as an academic community honored to be a place where the religions of the world engage in respectful encounter every day.
In this time of mourning, let us be comforted by the promises of Easter and the blessings of eternal life with the Father in Heaven. Let us recommit ourselves to the values he championed. Let us pray for the Church as it prepares to elect a new pope, and let us ask for the intercession of Pope Francis that he may guide us from heaven as he did on earth.
“God,” he frequently observed, “is always a surprise.” May we ever be grateful for God’s surprising work in the life and legacy of this unrepeatable pope.”
