SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The world is mourning the loss of Pope Francis Monday morning, a man known for his humility, compassion, and historic firsts. 28/22 News spoke with a scholar from the University of Scranton, a local Jesuit institution, about what the pope meant to the Jesuit community and beyond.
Faculty say they're feeling the loss of someone they considered "one of their own," as the first Jesuit pope, Francis, left a deep mark on catholicism and on Jesuit institutions around the world.
Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas, the first to take the name Francis, and he was the first Jesuit pope, a leader defined by humility and closeness to the people.
"He wanted to be close to the people, really, until his dying breath. Some of the last images that we'll have of Francis is him blessing those babies and waving to the people and greeting the pilgrims there," Mission and Ministry at the University of Scranton Vice President Doctor Daniel Cosacchi explained.
At the University of Scranton, a Jesuit school, his death feels deeply personal, especially for those familiar with the Jesuit mission.
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"Pope Francis had a particular human touch. He was constantly reaching out to people in great need. Part of this is a sense of he's one of ours, and by ours I mean, not just the Jesuits, but anybody who's been affiliated with the Jesuits," Dr. Cosacchi continued.
The pope's leadership brought change, appointing women to high-ranking roles at the Vatican, pushing for peace across religions, and calling for care of the earth and the poor.
"What he has done is said, if you are in need, I am going to be your advocate…He was a father figure to billions of people in the world," Dr. Cosacchi added.
As the church now looks ahead to who might lead next, many say Pope Francis set a tone that's hard to follow, but impossible to forget.
"He loved so widely, you know, he was, he was always available, as I said earlier, to the people in greatest need, and that is, that is a big legacy to try to fill," Dr. Cosacchi said.
Dr. Cosacchi also tells 28/22 News nearly 80% of the voting cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis himself, meaning his influence could shape the church's future for years to come.
