Pope Francis

You don’t have to be Catholic, or even religious, to appreciate what Pope Francis represented. In a time when so many leaders chase power or division, he returned the focus of Catholicism to something more compassionate: the teachings of Jesus. Through his compassion for the poor, his defense of the planet, and his willingness to speak out against cruelty, greed, and systems of harm, Pope Francis lived the values he preached. He reached out to those the world had turned away, and reminded us that love, humility, and justice are not outdated ideals, but essential truths.

It’s rare to see someone in a position of such power use it so fully in service of others. Today, we mourn his passing, and we carry forward the hope that more leaders like him will emerge, grounded in empathy, courage, love and compassion for all of humanity.