Local Catholics ponder the legacy of Pope Francis and the future of the Church

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The death of Pope Francis, who had served for twelve years as Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, means Catholics are looking back upon his legacy and looking ahead to the Church's future.

Just hours after making a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday at the Vatican in Rome, Pope Francis, who had been struggling with illness for several months, died early on Easter Monday morning.

Since then, over 1.5 billion Catholics worldwide, including Catholics in the St. Joseph area, continue to reflect on the unique legacy of Francis, while also asking questions about the future.

Jacob and Paulina, both students at Benedictine College, said the late Pope left a big impression on them.

"Pope Francis liked to focus upon those who didn't feel accounted for," Jacob said. "That included those who were left out and on the fringe of society."

Paulina, who met Pope Francis at an event in 2024, said, "Meeting him was a great experience. He was very humble and cared a lot about the community -- especially the Church."

Benedictine professor Dr. Matt Muller, said that Francis had a unique leadership style that was very different from his predecessors.

"I think his unique style inspired many people, but sometimes his statements caused some confusion," Muller said. "I don't think that was an accident, though. I think part of his vision was to stir things up."

Part of this stirring up, according to Muller, was to remind Catholics of the need for the Church to connect more strongly with the poor, marginalized and overlooked.

Francis, who grew up in Argentina, was the first Jesuit pope, a group within the Catholic Church known for its concern for the poor, among other things. He was the first pope from the Americas and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere.

Muller said his papacy was marked by a return to simplicity, both in how he appeared and how he connected with a wide variety of people.

"His impact," Muller said, "has been a reminder for those of us in the church to have a merciful look at the world around us."

Father Stephen Hansen, of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, agreed with Muller's assessment.

"When he was an archbishop and cardinal in Buenos Aires, he would take public transit whenever he traveled," Hansen said. "This was unusual for someone of his prominence, but he did these kinds of things on purpose to set an example for church members and leaders."

Hansen also said that Francis was a "pope for the poor and those on the periphery."

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