CARITAS CORNER: Remembering Pope Francis

By Andy Barton

Over 10 years ago, as I was preparing to come to work for Catholic Charities, a friend suggested I read “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis’ first apostolic exhortation. In those pages, I found not only an articulation of Catholic Social Teaching that would provide the practical foundation for the work of Catholic Charities, but also the honest voice of love and mercy that Pope Francis brought to the world. In that way, he has always felt like a guide in this work, and, like so many, I am deeply saddened by his passing.

Pope Francis was a shepherd whose papacy was defined by humility, courage, and a radical embrace of the poor and marginalized. His legacy is not just one of words, but of actions — actions that echo in the daily work of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado and inspire our mission to serve.

One of the most surprising and telling effects of Pope Francis’ passing has been the number of non-Catholics who have reached out to express their sympathy. He was embraced by people of all faiths who found in his words inspiration and comfort. In a world of increasing divisiveness, Pope Francis was a unifier who reminded us that our humanity is our most essential commonality. As he wrote in “Evangelii Gaudium,” “I exhort all countries to a generous openness which, rather than fearing the loss of local identity, will prove capable of creating new forms of social synthesis.”

His papacy was not without challenges. He was unique as a world leader who created controversy not for its own sake, but for the sake of those who had no voice in the sphere of decision making. In that pursuit he faced fierce opposition as he sought to reform the Vatican, address the pain of clerical abuse, and shift the Church’s focus from culture wars to issues of justice, mercy, and care for creation. 

Nor was Pope Francis without critics. He was authentic and unapologetic in his commitment to those on the margins, willing to call out the power structures that he held responsible. As we are reminded throughout the Gospels, criticism follows those who are willing to speak uncomfortable truths and who have a platform from which the world can hear them. 

Pope Francis called us to see Christ in the faces of the hungry, the homeless, the immigrant, and the outcast. He challenged the Church and the world to move beyond comfort and encounter the fullness of humanity, insisting that “when we stop encountering the fullness of our humanity, we lose something of ourselves, and we weaken the fabric of our communities.” He taught us that faith is not an escape from the world’s pain, but a summons to enter it with love. His legacy lives on in every act of kindness, every meal served, every life transformed.

Let us honor his memory by continuing to walk hand in hand with those in need, building a community where hope is not just a word, but a reality.