A Shepherd's Message - May 13, 2025

In this message, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez reflects on the legacy of the late Pope Francis, including a unique encounter with the Argentine pontiff, as well as the impact that Pope Francis had on the Catholic Church in Texas and abroad. 

With time to reflect on the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, what are your thoughts on his life and legacy in the Church?

He was the first pope from the Americas — and the first Jesuit. Those “firsts” were something that really spoke to people. Additionally, he chose not to live in the Apostolic Palace and moved to the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He lived there because he wanted to be close to people, who were always in his heart.

In one of his first interviews as pope, he was asked, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” And he said clearly, “I am a sinner. This [is] the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.” I believe this self-understanding led to his papal motto: “miserando atque eligendo,” which roughly translates to “having been looked upon with mercy, he called him.” It’s a beautiful motto. It recalls the moment when the Lord gazed upon St. Matthew and called him to follow him. Pope Francis really saw himself as one who had been looked upon with the eyes of mercy.

And then, of course, Pope Francis began an Extraordinary Year of Mercy (in 2015); he called people to return to the Church and find mercy in the Church. In the spirit of this year of mercy, he instructed his priests, “Please don’t make the confessional a torture chamber.” This was one example of how he could grasp you by the shoulders and wake you up with one phrase. He further encouraged us to never be afraid of God, continue to grow closer to the Lord, and seek His mercy. He reminded us that we get tired of asking God for mercy, but God never tires of being merciful.

Those are things that are going to stay in my heart and memory of this extraordinary man, our beloved Pope Francis.

What are some memories you have of Pope Francis, such as a personal encounter or an observation?

When I was in the Diocese of Austin, the Vatican asked the assistance of our judicial vicar and tribunal to help the Holy Father implement a more comprehensive teaching and understanding of marriage. The Holy Father wanted the Church to walk with people, accompany them before, during, and even after marriage. The diocese decided to help with this cause because we, like Our Holy Father, recognized the need for this ministry in our local and universal Church.

The diocese created a small team that helped translate a book that had been put together by the Vatican. When we finished the project, we received a nice note from the person tasked with this mission from the Holy Father.Two or the

ee months later, I was in a meeting, and my secretary came into the meeting and said to me, “The Vatican is calling.” And to my surprise, it was the Holy Father; he was on the phone! And I couldn’t believe it. It was a very short conversation. He said, “Thank you for helping with this. I appreciate what you’ve done; I’m grateful.”

I just couldn’t believe that he would take the time to call me from the Vatican; it was extraordinary to me. Again, this example showed his approachability and his availability. He was being a pastor. He always wanted to connect with people.

Personal encounters were always close to his heart. That’s why, on Holy Thursday, he would traditionally visit a prison and spend time with prisoners and wash their feet. He wanted to be present to them. He also spent time with the poor. He would have them come to the Vatican and share a meal with him. Those gestures were very genuine, very pastoral, and revealed the heart of a shepherd.

He took to heart the Gospel, particularly Matthew 25 (“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me …”).

In your Easter message, you spoke about reaching out to those in need and on the periphery — always a priority and main point carried throughout Pope Francis’ papacy. What kind of impact have you seen Pope Francis have on the faith community through such messages and examples — and how do you hope the Church will continue that mission?

I always think of two of his sayings … “I desire a Church that is poor and for the poor” and “the Church should be like a ‘field hospital.’” He desired a Church that took care of people who are hurting, who may feel neglected or ignored, or even, as he would say, people who have been discarded.

That’s why he wanted to reach out to the peripheries. He sought to connect with those individuals who felt they lacked a connection with the Church and wanted to ensure they always felt welcome. He wanted them to know: “The Church has a place for you.” That’s why Pope Francis kept emphasizing this, especially towards the end — the Church is open to everyone. It’s not reserved for a few, and it’s not exclusive. This encapsulates why many viewed him as the people’s pope.

Now that we’ve witnessed his funeral, we can note that he chose not to be buried in the Vatican. He moved to his favorite Church, Santa Maria Maggiore, and he’s buried there. His tomb just reads “Franciscus.” That simplicity, that availability — that’s the tone he set for the Church.