*Franciscus is the name inscribed on Pope Francis’s tomb at his own request

Let us now reflect on each of these hope-filled actions of Pope Francis, one by one.

The Universal Church’s great initiative, Pilgrims of Hope, is being celebrated worldwide in meaningful ways throughout this liturgical year.

2. Pope Francis’ autobiography, Hope, was published in January 2025

In a brief afterword, his Italian ghostwriter and publisher, Carlo Musso, reveals that when the book was first commissioned in 2019, the original plan was for it to be released only after the Pope’s death. Defying that intention, the book now boldly stands as the first-ever memoir by a living pope.

Could it not have been a sign that Pope Francis’s earthly mission was drawing to a close?

3. Pope Francis 2013-2025: From disillusionment to hope

It is worth recalling that Pope Francis was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, only the fourth pope in history to resign, and the first to do so in over 600 years. Pope Benedict, a scholarly theologian and intellectual often referred to as a ‘teaching pope,’ stepped down, citing the challenges posed by declining health amid administrative and financial scandals within the Vatican. Many believed the Church needed a leader with greater physical and spiritual vigor to govern the church amidst the complexities of the modern world. Pope Francis’s election defied media speculation and the expectations of insiders.

Over the past twelve years, he guided the Church through a crisis and disillusionment, leading it toward a renewed hope.

While his predecessor vacated the Holy See to fill a void, Pope Francis departed with hope, paving the way for his successor.

Pope Francis had not enjoyed robust health from the start of his papacy. Over the years, his physical decline became increasingly evident, yet his spiritual vitality never wavered. In February 2025, he was hospitalized with double pneumonia, spending five weeks in intensive care—the longest hospital stay of his twelve-year pontificate. During this time, the world watched anxiously, praying for his recovery. Just as the global concern began to ease, the news of Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, passing broke on Monday, April 21—the day after Easter, the Church’s feast of feasts, the celebration of Hope.

It was as if his final journey was divinely aligned with the commemoration of Christ’s Resurrection, a touching echo of the hope he preached and lived.

5. A Moment at Pope Francis’ Funeral Sparks Hope for Global Peace

In a striking moment of global symbolism, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were seen seated side by side inside St. Peter’s Basilica, just meters from the Pontiff’s coffin. The image, widely circulated across international media, captured a rare instance of hope amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The meeting came just weeks after a scheduled summit between the two leaders at the White House, set for February 28, was abruptly canceled, marking an unprecedented breakdown in diplomatic protocol. Yet in the informal but solemn setting of the Vatican, the two presidents appeared together, their presence offering a glimmer of hope for a thaw in relations and, potentially, progress toward ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, now entering its third year.

Observers have noted the deeply symbolic nature of the moment. Pope Francis, who had long advocated for peace, dialogue, and compassion across borders, seemed to inspire reconciliation even in death. His funeral became not only a farewell to a beloved global spiritual leader, but also a catalyst for renewed diplomatic possibilities.

His influence extends beyond the Catholic Church.

Throughout his twelve-year papacy, Pope Francis worked to steer the Catholic Church out of scandal and toward renewed relevance in a rapidly changing world. But his influence extended far beyond the Church. He emerged as a moral compass for global leaders, urging action on climate change, poverty, migration, and conflict resolution.

As one Vatican official noted, “Even in his final moments, Pope Francis brought people together. His legacy is not just one of hope for the Church, but for the entire world.”