By Gladyce Janky
What memory(s) do you have that epitomize Pope Francis’ Papacy (March 13, 2013 to April 21, 2025)? Is it his first appearance on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he asked the people to pray for him before giving them his blessing? What about his emphasis on offering mercy? Perhaps it is how he shared his joy for the Gospel message, or his efforts to promote peace and understanding through the use of encounter and dialogue.
The Core Jesuit Value, Cura personalis, means offering personalized care (mercy) tailored to an individual’s needs, as opposed to providing the same “generic” care to a group of people. The theme of mercy was highlighted almost immediately after he assumed his position as head of the Catholic Church. He surprised everyone when, on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2013, he visited the Casel del Marmo Juvenile Detention Center. For the incarcerated men and women, the Pope offered mercy by affirming their dignity as Children of God by kissing and washing their feet.
The Pope further emphasized the importance of practicing mercy by declaring an extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, beginning on December 8, 2015. He encouraged Christians to follow his example of contemplating, naming, and then acting on the question, “What does mercy look like in the concrete circumstances of this situation (this person’s life)?”
Pope Francis had a preferential concern for today’s youth, which he demonstrated by attending four World Youth Days. He invited young people to experience Jesus’ messages of love, joy, and forgiveness as a “counterweight” to the challenges they face in a world that is becoming increasingly secularized.
On September 24, 2015, Pope Francis addressed a joint session of the United States Congress. Throughout the speech, he extended an invitation to members of Congress to engage in dialogue with him. He encouraged the use of dialogue as a means to address differences. He affirmed the importance of finding peaceful and compassionate solutions for the issues facing our country and world, such as the use of violence to resolve conflicts, the staggering number (over 300 million) of international immigrants, environmental challenges, and poverty.
He used the word ‘encounter’ to describe authentic, personal interaction and relationship-building. Encounter is about recognizing the presence of God in the “Other”. On multiple occasions, Pope Francis used his position to engage in active listening and meaningful interfaith dialogue. He promoted understanding between Jews, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Muslims as a way of honoring differences and discouraging the use of religion as a political tool to divide people.
For some Catholics, Pope Francis pushed the boundaries of Church doctrine too far. For others, he did not do enough to help those who suffered abuse at the hands of priests or improve the status of women in the Church. And others criticized him for spending too much time providing pastoral care rather than teaching the faith. However, one theologian observed that Pope Francis’ teaching style is evident in his pastoral practices. Andrew Prevost noted, For Christians, the essence of doctrine is supposed to be teaching about Christ. That’s not an abstract idea; that is a person. Doctrine and practice are closely related, and Francis understood this, seeking to teach the world through his actions, not just words (Sidebar).
Pope Francis was a “servant leader,” seeking to offer mercy and encouragement, especially to young people. He had a strong belief in the power of the Gospels to change lives and bring healing into the world. His legacy includes his joyous openness to all peoples and his willingness to work for peace and understanding.
