From Rome to Oxford: The impact of Pope Francis

Around 8 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, I woke up and reached for my phone to check my notifications. There were way more than usual, and the first message I read was from a friend: ‘The Holy Father just died.” Pope Francis had passed away at age 88.

Pope Francis was recently hospitalized with bronchitis on Feb. 14, but recovered and returned to public life. On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis gave a blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by one last ride in the popemobile, waving to some 50,000 people. In the very early hours of the next day, he suffered a stroke and fell into a coma, before passing away. It is reported that he did not suffer, as it all happened very quickly and unexpectedly.

Among the final words of Pope Francis were gratitude to his personal health assistant: "Thank you for bringing me back to the Square." Now, approximately 1.4 billion Catholics around the world are mourning the loss of the Supreme Pontiff, after Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the passing of Pope Francis to the world.

The Catholic Church now enters a "sede vacante" period, when there’s currently no pope. The next pope is chosen in the papal conclave by the College of Cardinals. There is no way to accurately predict who will become the next pope.

As for Pope Francis, his pontificate was exceptional. He was a pope who emphasized mercy, human dignity and the nearness of God’s love – especially to those on the margins of society. Although often misrepresented by the media, he was not a liberal, communist or some kind of political figure. Rather, he was a man who led with great compassion in accordance with the Catholic Church’s teaching.

In a 2013 interview with Antonio Spadaro, Pope Francis was asked who he is. He responded: “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.”

Pope Francis was known for this humility. Even for his death, he requested only a simple burial in a plain tomb with only the inscription, “Franciscus.”

He was the first pope in the digital age – directing the Catholic Church through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, secular hostility, social media and a divided world. He was the first pope of the Jesuit religious order, the first from the Americas and the first to take the name “Francis.” Billions of Catholics loved him and are sad to see him go.

Pope Francis was loved around Miami University’s campus, too.

Mara Flood, a sophomore and president of Students For Life, said she liked Pope Francis’ unwavering support for the pro-life movement.

“I have always appreciated Pope Francis’ firm stance against abortion,” Flood said. “His insistence of the value of the unborn has been an inspiration to all who fight for a culture of life.”

Hayden Poellinger, a junior marketing major, said he already feels the loss of Pope Francis.

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“It's truly a tragic loss, not just of the leader of our church, but of a symbol of kindness and generosity,” Poellinger said.

The death of Pope Francis came as a shock to the Miami Catholic Newman Center and St. Mary’s community, where he was greatly admired. The Newman Center is a home for Catholic students, located behind the Oxford Police Station.

Photo by Jacob Van Riper | The Miami Student
At the Miami Catholic Newman Center, the Vatican flag on the wall has been temporarily taken down following the death of Pope Francis.

The Rev. Jacob Willig, one of the priests at St. Mary’s Church and Newman, remembers how Pope Francis had a direct impact on the founding of the Newman Center, as it was established during the year of St. Joseph, which was declared by Pope Francis in 2021.

“St. Joseph had a large influence in helping us finish building a chapel in just a few short months,” Willig said. “It was miraculous how it all came together. We decided to name the chapel St. Joseph chapel too, after this great patron.”

Willig also recalls Pope Francis’s humility and charity from the very beginning.

“He would often ride the bus to work before he became pope,” Willig said in an email. “He was certainly dedicated to living the beatitudes and always tried to stand up for the poor and the marginalized … Let us remember to pray for the repose of his soul and for the next Vicar of Christ for the Universal Church.”

Cooper Jones, the head server at St. Mary’s and vice president of the Newman Center, said he remembers many of the pope’s amazing moments throughout his pontificate.

“Pope Francis, by his humility and immense self-giving, proved himself to be the ‘most based pope ever,’” Jones said. “He visited the place where ISIS said they would kill him, adding to his legacy.”

Marc Orlando, a junior mechanical engineering major and a regular at the Newman Center, said he was very saddened by the loss of the Holy Father.

“I greatly appreciated his devotion to the maintenance of the Catholic Church and its beliefs surrounding marriage and family,” Orlando said.

Pope Francis has had a profound impact on our campus and the entire globe. He challenged the Catholic Church not to remain in comfort, but rather to step out into the world with mercy, courage and love. That legacy will remain.

vanripjl@miamioh.edu

Jacob Van Riper is a sophomore business analytics major. He is the marketing director at the Miami Catholic Newman Center and a senator for the Associated Student Government. He also serves as inside guard of Oxford’s Knights of Columbus Council 18322 – Seat of Wisdom.