Remembering Pope Francis

Donnelly College is saddened at the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, 2025. He championed education for all as a fundamental human right, and emphasized caring for the poor, the sick and the underprivileged, which aligns with the very values on which Donnelly was founded.

Director of Mission Matt Vander Vennet, Ph.D. said, "Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis lived out the mission of Donnelly College, especially in his efforts to reach out to the poor and marginalized and those who might not otherwise be served in order to make the love of God tangible in our world. We thank him for his witness to the Gospel and his ministry as Supreme Pontiff."

Donnelly joins those throughout the world praying for Pope Francis:

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.”

---

President Monsignor Stuart Swetland reflects on the life of Pope Francis:

By: Msgr. Stuart Swetland

Pope Francis was, first and foremost, a Christian pastor. Both words are important. He defined himself in terms of being a man who knew and loved the person of Jesus of Nazareth. For Francis, Jesus was always the center of everything.

Here is how he stated it in his pivotal Apostolic Exhortation "The Joy of the Gospel":

“In their own way, all these instances of joy flow from the infinite love of God, who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. I never tire of repeating those words of Benedict XVI which take us to the very heart of the Gospel: ‘Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.’

Thanks solely to this encounter – or renewed encounter – with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship, we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. We become fully human when we become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being. Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization. For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?”

(Evangelii Gaudium 7-8)

And sharing the love that he had experienced in Christ was the hallmark of his pastoral ministry. This ministry included a major focus on those on the existential, economic and physical margins; the search for peace and harmony among peoples; and environmental justice. Even the name he chose to be called as the Bishop of Rome reflected these pastoral concerns.

Pope Francis told this story to journalist a few days after his election:

"During the election, I was sitting next to Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Archbishop Emeritus of Sao Paolo…, a good friend, a good friend!  When things were looking dangerous, he encouraged me. When the votes reached two-thirds…he gave me a hug and a kiss and said: 'Don't forget the poor.' And those words came to me: the poor, the poor. Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of all the wars, as the votes were still being counted, till the end. Francis is also the man of peace.

That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation; these days we do not have a very good relationship with creation, do we? He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man…. How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor."

("Pope Francis Speaks to Our Hearts", The Word Among Us Press, 2013, pp. 92-93)

This love for the poor and marginalized, his commitment to religious and civil dialogue and understanding, his desire to illuminate the many injustices of our time, his unity with those who suffer persecution and discrimination, especially immigrants, refugees and exiles, and his unwavering commitment to environmental justice were seen in his daily ministry and his numerous apostolic journeys as pope.

It was also reflected in his personal lifestyle. As much as possible for a pope and a head of state, Francis lived a poor and simple life. Continuing the example he set as a Jesuit superior and then as a bishop and archbishop in Argentina, Francis attempted to imitate the humility and poverty of Jesus in his private life.

Francis also attempted to reform the Church beginning with the curia in Rome. Of course the Church is in constant need of reformation, but Francis inherited a pastoral situation that cried out for renewal. He leaves behind a more transparent organization, one that has committed itself to be better at listening to the faithful and including those who have experienced alienation or exclusion.

The pastoral foci of Pope Francis are similar to the goals and priorities of Donnelly College. At Donnelly, we provide a faith-based education focused on the unique needs and ability of each student, especially those who might not otherwise have access to higher education. Pope Francis has been a model and an inspiration to those who work on behalf of social justice for all. We honor his passing as we commend him to God.