JESUIT VALUES OF JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO (part 1):

Pope Francis, a member of the Society of Jesus, died on April 21, 2025. Father General Arturo Sosa, S.J., wrote to all members of the Society a letter on the Death of Pope Francis to express gratitude and understanding for Pope Francis’s life and service to the Church. In the letter, Father Sosa stated that the Pope’s passing is a time of mourning, but also a time to give thanks to God for all the goodness bestowed through the Pope’s leadership, which spanned over 12 years.

Pope Francis is admired for his great concern for global issues and his ability to offer hope through his two encyclicals, Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti, which provide a profound analysis of humanity and ways to address injustice. He also emphasizes the importance of walking together and the centrality of prayer in the Church’s ministry, making the Church synodal and grounded in discernment.

The author’s experience of making a pilgrimage to pay his last respects to the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica and praying at the Pope’s tomb shows how deeply Pope Francis has influenced many people. The author also invites the brothers to reflect on the contents of Father Sosa’s letter as spiritual reading, remembering how real and moving the Jesuit spirit is in the figure of Pope Francis.

Father Sosa also recalled the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society established in 2019. He emphasized that the first preference, which is to show the way to God through Spiritual Exercises and discernment, is significant because it is the basis for all other preferences. This preference also describes the relationship between members of the Society and God in personal and communal prayer. With deep gratitude, the author reflects on all these things as part of Pope Francis’ legacy to the Church and the world.

Gratia Status

Pater Federico Lombardi reflects on Pope Francis, noting that he embodies the Ignatian spirit through his commitment to a Church that seeks God’s will and spreads the Gospel universally. Lombardi highlights the importance of “gratia status,” which signifies the grace God provides for Francis’s mission and life situation. He mentions that Pope Francis often spends quiet time in prayer at the Santa Marta chapel and maintains a routine of going to bed early to wake refreshed for morning prayers.

Lombardi points out how the apostolic letter “Gaudete et Exultate,” which calls everyone to holiness, and the encyclical “Dilexit nos,” revealing Francis’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, reflect the fruits of his prayers and relationship with God. In his pastoral approach, Lombardi emphasizes Pope Francis’s ability to connect closely with people, fostering a simple, direct, and sincere dialogue with all, demonstrating a unique gift in his personal interactions.

Contributor: P. L. A. Sardi, S.J.