By Aaron Lemma • Posted April 25, 2025

I am not surprised that Pope Francis died. I am surprised at how much I miss him.

I remember when Pope Benedict XVI was elected. I was in first grade at St. Aloysius School in Pottstown. Our class watched the TV as white smoke drifted above the Sistine Chapel.

Pope Francis was elected in 2013, my freshman year at Pope John Paul II High School. Despite my school’s namesake, I always felt like Francis was “My Pope.”

Francis’ hopeful sincerity and contrarian approach spoke to me. His humility gave me something to strive for. His honoring of St. Francis was inspiring, too, especially as a life-long (amateur) naturalist.

I liked Francis so much that, for my 18th birthday, my mom surprised me with tickets to the World Meeting of Families—complete with a life-size Pope Francis cardboard cutout. He went everywhere with me. I hauled him to football games, spirit days, and even homecoming. When he wasn’t busy working the crowds, I buckled him into the passenger seat of my 2004 Honda CRV.

Seeing Pope Francis in Philly was the pinnacle of my young faith life.

It was my first pilgrimage. When we made it to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Saturday after weeks of anticipation, we waited hours for him to arrive.

His motorcade didn’t make the Parkway until evening. Then, the rumbles started: “We love the pope! We love the pope!” Lights flashed and sirens blasted with a true Philly escort. Finally, we saw him.

He waved as I recorded on my phone. It lasted all of five seconds. Of all the thousands in the crowd, he looked right at me, creating my favorite screenshot of all time.

His homily that night echoed down the Parkway and into my heart. He told the story of a little boy who once asked him, “What did God do before he created the universe?” Francis was impressed with his big question. After thinking for a moment, he responded in his simple but profound style: “He loved.”

During Mass on Sunday, I was struck by the beauty of Communion—both the distribution of the Eucharist and the unity of the faithful. One by one, attendees made their way through the crowd to one of the hundreds of eucharistic ministers. It was beautiful and truly Catholic.

I left the World Meeting of Families feeling more connected to my global family—the Church, diverse and plentiful, sacrificial and caring. This was my Church, and Francis was “My Pope.”

When tasked with a documentary project later that year, I chose to tackle climate change. I turned to Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” for insight.

I received more than insight—I received the seeds of inspiration that would grow into a personal mission.

When I decided to attend St. Joseph’s University, I didn’t know it was a Jesuit University. In fact, I didn’t know what a Jesuit was, I didn’t know Pope Francis was a Jesuit, and I didn’t know that, before celebrating Mass on the Parkway, Pope Francis stopped by SJU to bless the Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time statue outside the chapel.

Every day, hundreds of SJU students walk past this statue blessed by Francis himself, the first Jesuit pope. In my time on Hawk Hill, I got to know several Jesuit priests and professors who deepened my sense of a faith that does justice. I still try to live up to the motto and be with and for others.

Upon graduating I entered the Alliance for Catholic Education at SJU. I lived in the Bergoglio Community (named after Francis’ name, Jorge Bergoglio). At the same time, I earned a master’s degree from Neumann University that focused on the principles of Franciscan leadership, which is servant leadership that emphasizes caring for those you lead.

ACESJU ended and I felt the seeds of Laudato Si’ budding within me. I was called to “hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Laudato Si’, 49).

I found my way to Water is Life Kenya, a nonprofit that brings clean water and community development to the Maasai tribe. Here I was mentored by the late Dr. Francis Xavier Tannian, a career economics professor and lifelong Catholic. He founded this organization alongside his wife and daughter in 2007 at the youthful age of 73. Inspiring doesn’t quite capture his impact.

I’ve recently gotten involved with EcoPhilly, a volunteer-led group carrying out the work of Laudato Si’ in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Pope Francis was “My Pope.” Laudato Si’ has been my guidepost. A Jesuit-Franciscan approach to leadership has been my aspiration. Indeed, the force that was Franciscus has fundamentally changed my life.

Our Pope has died, but his work is alive in me and countless others. May he continue to bless our Archdiocese as we build our Church together.

Long live Francis, the Pope of hope.

***

Aaron Lemma is the Director of U.S. Operations at Water is Life Kenya, a nonprofit organization that brings clean water, opportunity, and hope to the Maasai people of Southern Kenya.