Living Faith contributor, Sr. Julia Walsh, FSPA, offers this memory…
I don’t know if I have ever before felt so much sorrow about a public figure’s passing onto eternal life. I remember when Pope Francis was elected while I was teaching high school, and how the chaplain at the school, Fr. Dan, came into my classroom looking perplexed and awed. He came to ask me if I knew anything about that Cardinal from Argentina, and then being moved to tears when he picked the name Francis so he would stay close to the poor.
When Francis visited the United States and spoke to the Senate I joyfully arranged for an opportunity for our high school students to watch his speech with me in the school auditorium. I also remember my excitement on the day that Laudato Sí released. I think I left the ministry early that day so I could read it and observe the news coverage. This encyclical and its focus, like the style of pastoral leadership that he modeled, encouraged me to stay dedicated to my faith, my vows as a Franciscan Sister and to the Catholic Church overall. His relational, down-to-earth, humble approach helped me (and millions!) to feel totally at home in the Catholic Church. Thanks be to God!
