Tilburg, 23 April 2025, by Frater Lawrence Obiko CMM
As a testimony, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have had a personal encounter with Pope Francis during a private audience with the Union of Superiors General in Rome, as well as at the International Vincentian Family Convention, also in Rome. Witnessing him in person, I saw the true image of a Shepherd, one who genuinely lives and walks in the footsteps of Christ. His humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to serving others deeply inspired me. In every gesture, he exemplified what it truly means to be a servant leader. His daily actions, marked by love, simplicity, and empathy, continue to bear witness to his authentic discipleship. This encounter left a lasting imprint on my heart, challenging me to live a life of deeper purpose and service.
What can we learn from Pope Francis’ Legacy of “Humility and Service”?
In a world too often divided by power, pride, and indifference, Pope Francis has stood as a humble witness to the radical love of Jesus. He walked not ahead of Christ, but beside Him, embracing the dusty roads, the wounded hearts, and the silent tears of the forgotten.
Like Jesus, who wept with the sorrowful and rejoiced with the redeemed, Pope Francis led with compassion. His voice echoed the mercy of the Saviour, reminding us that no one is beyond God’s embrace. In every prison visit, every word to the homeless, every outreach to the poor, we see Christ’s gentle hand at work in him.
He wore his humility not as a badge, but as a calling. Declining grandeur, he chose the company of the meek and lived among them, embodying the Gospel’s quiet strength. Like the Carpenter of Nazareth, he lifted up others and stepped back from glory.
Through his tireless advocacy for the poor, migrants, and the marginalized, Francis honored Jesus who said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” He showed us that love for the outcast is not optional, it is the heart of the Gospel.
In the spirit of the One who said, “Father, forgive them,” Francis has taught us to forgive, to begin again, and to trust in God’s endless mercy. He reminds us that the Church is not a fortress, but a field hospital, open to all who suffer.
He was a servant to the end, he knelt to wash the feet of strangers, just as Jesus did. In a world desperate for power, he chose the towel and basin.
His joy is contagious, not naive but deeply rooted in the Resurrection. Francis invites us to hope, to live the joy of the Gospel, and to find light even in the shadows.
And in a time when judgment often drowns out understanding, his words “Who am I to judge?” ring with grace, offering a space for every soul to journey toward God without fear.
Pope Francis, like the Master he followed, was not perfect but was faithful. And in his faithfulness, we see the living Christ.
His final blessing on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, holds deep spiritual and symbolic significance, both for the Catholic Church and for the world. His final Urbi et Orbi was not just a traditional rite, it was a farewell, a benediction wrapped in hope, love, and the enduring call to peace.
May his witness continue to inspire us, the Church, and the entire world to walk the way of love, humility, and mercy.
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