For Pope Francis -

It was my freshman year of high school, and we were assigned to learn about the men who could become the new Pope. As we sat in religion class and watched coverage of the proceedings, we were supposed to have with us our top choices - before I knew barely anything about him, I’d chosen Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and, I believe, I was the only one in class who had, so my joy was even more complete when he unexpectedly was chosen.

For me this was a time before I had truly formed any opinions, other than the opinions of those around me, on what a Christian and Catholic life should look like, and I can tell you that during the years since, as I grew up, I was so blessed to do so in the world where a Pope emulated the kind of life I decided was aligned with the teachings of Jesus. My family always wanted him to see this project, believing he’d be a fan, and I certainly hope that’s true. But it worked the other way around, too, with his care for social justice, the environment, and living in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed inspiring this project as well.

I admit I am scared by the fact that much secular leadership across the world currently holds such opposite values as the ones Pope Francis held, and I worry that without his voice, things could get much worse. I hold out that, just like last time, a truly unexpected underdog who wants to carry the church forward in healing and justice might continue his work and perhaps even go further with it.

Thank you Pope Francis, may you rest in peace.