Hasta Luego: The Language of Pope Francis

While standing in Saint Peter’s Basilica on June 29, 2015, Cardinal Blase Cupich turned to me and asked, “Have you ever met the Pope?” When I replied, “No,” he immediately grasped my arm and said with a smile, “well, now is your chance.”

He led me briskly toward Pope Francis and introduced me in Italian: “Holy Father, this is Ron Hicks, my Vicar General, and he speaks Spanish.” At once, Pope Francis turned to me and began speaking in Spanish — a language in which we could communicate freely, warmly, and deeply.

From that moment forward, whenever we encountered one another, we spoke exclusively in Spanish, always accompanied by his direct and attentive gaze. Pope Francis had a remarkable gift: he made me feel not only heard but truly seen.

His warmth, care, support, and joy were not reserved for a select few; they were the hallmarks of his presence with everyone he encountered.

No one who leads a Church of over a billion faithful can expect unanimity on every issue. Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis courageously engaged theological, ecclesial, spiritual — AND controversial — matters with conviction and pastoral tenderness. As we mourn his passing, it is fitting to give thanks for the many ways he shaped the life of the Church and touched the soul of the world, among them:

• Evangelii Gaudium – his first apostolic exhortation, joyfully setting forth a bold vision for a missionary Church that is merciful, inclusive, and centered on the poor;
• Laudato Si’ – his groundbreaking encyclical calling humanity to respect, cherish, and protect our common home;
• A Synodal Church – a historic invitation and process for the People of God to walk together, listen to one another, and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit;
• Fratelli Tutti – his powerful call to recognize every person as a brother or sister, and to build a global culture of solidarity and peace;
• A Church of the Margins – his unwavering insistence that the Church must go forth to the peripheries to encounter and accompany the poor, the forgotten, and the excluded; and
• The Jubilee Year of Hope – announced just this year, reminding us that hope is a divine gift rooted not in mere human optimism, but in the sure promise of Christ’s victory over sin and death.

The list of his contributions to the Church and to humanity is truly inexhaustible.

And as the years unfold, the world will continue to draw strength from some of his most unforgettable words.

• "The Church is a field hospital" (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013, §49).
• "Be shepherds with the smell of the sheep" (Chrism Mass Homily, March 28, 2013).
• "Reality is greater than ideas" (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013, §231).

Since the news of our Holy Father’s death, I have received a profound outpouring of letters, emails, and notes of condolence from priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful. What moved me especially were the unexpected expressions of sympathy and gratitude from Protestant ministers, rabbis, imams, and government leaders.

Pope Francis’s life and leadership transcended boundaries, reaching hearts across religious, cultural, and political divides. In life, he brought hands and hearts together. In death, he continues to gather us — united in prayer, in gratitude, and in hope.

I will never forget that iconic moment twelve years ago, when Pope Francis, newly elected, stepped out onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica and humbly asked the whole world to pray for him. And I was deeply moved when, at the close of the funeral Mass, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re brought everything full circle in the final words of his homily. With great affection, he said:

As we remember and give thanks to God for the gift of Pope Francis, my heart returns once more to the moments we shared speaking in Spanish. Because of the Resurrection and the hope we have in Jesus Christ, we do not say “adiós” (goodbye) to Pope Francis. Rather, with faith, with hope, and with profound gratitude, we say “hasta luego” (until later) — and until we meet again, let us pray: “May God hold him in the palm of His hand.”