The tranquil serenity of Easter Monday was abruptly punctuated this morning by the resonant peals of church bells, a sound that resonated deeply with Catholics worldwide, signaling the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. While his recent health struggles had cast a shadow of concern, his brief recovery instilled a hopeful reprieve, a desire for him to grace us with his presence for a while longer.

Thus, an era concludes, marking the departure of an extraordinary pope who leveraged his global platform to champion the marginalized, the often-overlooked members of our human family whose contributions, though vital, are frequently unrewarded.

I was privileged to experience Pope Francis’s profound warmth, wisdom, and compassionate spirit on several occasions. Notably, on March 20, 2017, at Vatican City, I participated as a speaker in the Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice Foundation’s conference, where global leaders convened to address ethical challenges in business, academia, and politics. Following a Mass he presided over, Pope Francis addressed our assembly and personally greeted each attendee in the Clementina Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

His words from that day remain etched in my memory: “The fight against poverty is not merely a technical economic problem, but above all a moral one, calling for global solidarity and the development of more equitable approaches to the concrete needs and aspirations of individuals and peoples worldwide.”

Echoing his predecessor, Saint John Paul II, he emphasized the ethical imperative of economic activity: “It must always stand at the service of the human person and the universal common good,” underscoring that economic endeavors are inseparable from ethical considerations and societal well-being.