On April 23, 2025, the world paused to bid farewell to the pontiff. His body arrived in St. Peter’s Square that morning, where thousands of faithful were gathered to pay their respects. On the same day, our Minister General, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, fondly recalled Pope Francis and what his ministry has meant for the Church and the Franciscan Order.
“Pope Francis has left us and he certainly leaves behind a tremendous legacy. It was an extraordinary grace for us Franciscans that he chose the name ‘Francis’ —because with that name came an entire program of life and special ministry at the head of the Church.
To us Franciscans, his choice has always told us that our charism was alive, deeply relevant and could still offer something to the world. For us, it marked the beginning of a renewed purification of our charism—a reflection on the depth of our way of life—so that we, too, might be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today’s world.
For the Church, his papacy represented a major reform. While institutional reform takes time, he signaled change through powerful symbols, his teachings, his message, his activities, and his choices. He showed us that the Church must be a Church of the Second Vatican Council — one that is close to the world and its problems, not focused on itself, but turned toward the world.
For the world at large, his ministry—his papacy—was an invitation to dialogue with all people. He welcomed everyone, and that alone was a powerful message to a world that continues to grow more closed-off.
In any case, even those who aren’t at the forefront of peace-building recognize Pope Francis as someone who truly believed in it.
He was a truly alternative figure to what the world commonly proposes, especially compared to the powerful of the world.”
