Last updated on June 6, 2025
A common term for casual Catholics is CEO or “Christmas and Easter Only” Catholics. As such, the two most popular days for the Church are those two holidays. This past Easter, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington D.C. was teeming with CEO and devout Catholics alike. The 11:00 AM mass was so popular that although the cathedral could fit hundreds of people, there were still well-dressed Catholics standing in the back and pouring out the door.
Many of them seemed to not know the words or customary gestures of mass and probably only observe the Sabbath twice every year. The site of President John F. Kennedy’s funeral, St. Matthew’s has high ceilings and walls with biblical murals painted around its dome. The acoustics and the powerful organ assist the trained choir in delivering a resounding, uplifting melody about the rise of Christ and His defeat of death.
It was a typical Easter filled with the typical joy and satisfaction of the Lenten season’s conclusion.
Yet, the news of the Holy Father’s passing struck a somber note to the beginning of the Easter season. Many young Catholics were only familiar with Pope Francis as he presided over the church for nearly a decade and a half. Many remember his warm humility and his bulwark defense of the vulnerable.
Which is why, even though he died on a Monday, St. Matthew’s Cathedral was packed for a second day in a row. Despite it being a regular day Mass, many came to pray for the repose of his soul, to pay homage to the vigil set up in the cathedral, or to pray for the church’s future.
The profound effect of his stewardess was seen everywhere on a typical evening in the nation’s capital.
The Pope entered the papacy under a turbulent time for the church and the world. He never was loyal to an ideology or faction and always remained an outspoken advocate for the most vulnerable among us. He rarely yielded to any foreign leader and always was the first to condemn their policies if he believed they ran counter to church doctrine. He sparked the ire of American conservatives when he lambasted Trump’s deportations, echoed progressive cries about climate change, and called for a ceasefire in the Holy Land. On the flip side, he never waived in his opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, or clerical celibacy. In this manner, he was a singular, independent force that attempted to rebuild the reputation and priorities of the church.
Needless to say, the church needed rebuilding at the conception of his papacy in 2013. With lingering scandals like the 2012 Vatican leaks and the 2006 Regensburg lecture controversy from the Benedict XVI era, the church was in dire need of a breath of fresh air.
Entering Pope Francis’ papacy, renewal brought this needed restoration.
As I watched the news unfold in the subsequent days after his passing, seeing Francis’ modest wooden coffin and hearing his request for only the word “Franciscus” to be inscribed on his tomb showed his true nature up until death: a servant of Christ.
Coming from a Jesuit high school, I looked to the papacy, which illustrated the core values of the Jesuit tradition: justice, service, community, and faith. These ideals, not only necessary within the church, but invaluable to the secular part of the world, are why lines stretched over a mile in length during the three days of his mourning.
As many call him “The People’s Pope”, Francis’ legacy will be remembered for his groundedness in the marginalized and unwavering service towards social issues. Maybe more underrated was his leadership in steering the institution through the murky waters of financial and sexual scandals. It was his humility, working as a necessary quality, that built the figurative bridge with the people outside the Vatican’s walls; in doing so, he successfully cleaned up the church’s tainted image.
Beyond his admired qualities as a servant-leader in Christ, Francis’ policy stances were often both respected and scrutinized, especially in the American realm of politics. While conservative news outlets may praise his legacy for the traditional stance on clerical celibacy, left-leaning outlets continuously praise him for his humanitarian viewpoints on immigration. Still, it is necessary to see the church’s stances go beyond the political factions presented within our world.
Highlighting the notion of supposed factions, Edward Berger’s Conclave film surged 283% in popularity following Francis’ death. Consequently, it becomes easy to perceive the church as being fueled by the same political ambition as the cardinals within Hollywood’s rendition. Speaking on his past conclave experience, Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David emphasizes the tradition as a “retreat” where cardinals will pray for God’s guidance in the decision-making process.
“That’s why we have a big moral and spiritual obligation to enter into the conclave, not in the spirit of politics but in the spirit of prayer for the continuity of the mission of the Church,” David said.
Hence, the conclave and ultimately the direction of the church are never predicated on political or social trends. While Francis found both common ground and disagreed with certain ideologies, his Jesuit values are rooted in a Christocentric approach. Amalgamating into his commitment to the refuge, Francis’ virtues are a reflection of Jesus’ compassion for the modern-day anawim. In this way, he truly worked as an apostle to Jesus, and his persona further amplified his values toward a modern demographic.
Historically, a Pope’s image evolves for better or worse over time. Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) was respected for his leadership during WWII, yet he was later scrutinized for his response to the Holocaust. As our world remembers Pope Francis’ legacy as a time of renewal and refreshing care for the marginalized, time will tell the long-term direction of the church after the next conclave. In the shifting landscape where Catholic influence in Western European countries dwindles and influence in African and Asian countries grows, we will see how the Catholic institution responds to the world’s needs. Fortunately, Francis has opened up the doors for needed transparency, needed new demographics, and a needed shift in the institution’s policy stances.
Yet, the defining aspect of every Pope is whether they were successful in broadening the church around the world. At this time, we do not know the entire imprint he left on the church or the world, but at the very least, his gentle leadership should serve as an enduring reminder of Catholicism at its best – nonjudgmental, humble, and resolute.
Ethan Kim contributed to this article
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