APRIL 21, 2025, It is with deep sorrow and reverence that Avila University joins the global Catholic community in mourning the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. As a Catholic institution guided by the values of service, faith, and education without limits, we pause to honor a spiritual leader who redefined the papacy for the modern era and reminded us all of the transformative power of humility, compassion, and mercy.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, made history in 2013 when he became the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first to take the name Francis—signaling his intent to lead with simplicity and deep concern for the poor and marginalized. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis embodied the Gospel message in word and action, calling on the Church and the world to remember those on the peripheries, to care for our common home, and to lead lives grounded in love and justice.
At Avila, we were particularly inspired by his commitment to social justice and inclusion. His efforts to open doors to dialogue among faiths, his calls for peace in times of global unrest, and his unwavering focus on the dignity of all human life resonated with our mission and reminded us of the Church’s prophetic call to lead by example.
Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, a passionate plea for ecological responsibility and care for the Earth, continues to inspire our own campus sustainability initiatives. His outreach to young people through World Youth Day and his encouragement for them to “make a mess” in pursuit of truth and justice challenged institutions like ours to rethink how we nurture and empower the next generation of leaders, scholars, and citizens.
While we mourn his passing, we celebrate his enduring impact. His papacy was not just a historical milestone, but a spiritual movement—one that reminded the world that leadership is most powerful when it is grounded in love, and that the Church’s role is not to stand apart from the world, but to walk with it, especially in its pain and uncertainty.
We offer our prayers for the repose of his soul, for the Vatican leadership in this time of transition, and for Catholics around the world who are grieving this immense loss. May Pope Francis’s legacy continue to inspire us to live lives of purpose, guided by faith, service, and unwavering compassion.
May he rest in eternal peace.
— Avila University