“Brave Oblates”: The Day I Met Pope Francis
Yesterday marked the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. His life and ministry continue to resonate through his witness of humility, compassion, and unwavering closeness to the poor and marginalized. To mark this occasion, we invite you to revisit a personal reflection written last year by Fr. Jarek Pachocki, OMI, recalling a memorable encounter with the Holy Father.
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He certainly will be missed. But his legacy lives on – in every act of mercy, in every gesture of welcome, in every voice raised for the voiceless.
Pope Francis died today – Easter Monday, April 21, 2025 – at the age of 88, in his residence at Casa Santa Marta. His papacy was marked by humility, compassion, and a deep concern for the poor and marginalized. The first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope, he broke new ground, not through grandeur, but through simplicity, mercy, and tenderness.
Last year, I had the privilege of meeting him.
I had gathered in Rome with my classmates to celebrate our 25th Anniversary of priesthood. Together with Fr. Anthony, Fr. Andrew, and Fr. Paul, we embarked on a journey of reflection, celebration, and reconnection in the heart of the Church.
Fr. Anthony, now the vicar general and second in command of our congregation; Fr. Andrew, a professor at St. Paul University and pastor at Sacré Coeur in Ottawa; and Fr. Paul, serving as pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in war-torn Kyiv, Ukraine – each of us had gone in different directions over the years, but the bond we shared as brother-priests had not faded. If anything, time had deepened it.
A highlight of our pilgrimage was the opportunity to meet Pope Francis after a Wednesday General Audience. Introducing ourselves to the Holy Father, we were humbled by his simple yet profound words: “Brave Oblates.”
Those two words were more than a compliment. They were a blessing. An affirmation of all we had tried to live. A call to keep going.
Meeting Pope Francis felt like meeting a grandfather who truly cares. There was no “celebrity aura” about him – just the gentle, compassionate presence of someone who sees you, who knows your heart, and encourages you with love.
I couldn’t resist taking a selfie with the Pope! Who could?
And now, with his passing, I hold even tighter to those words – “Brave Oblates.” I take them as a commission, a sacred reminder of who we are called to be.
He certainly will be missed. But his legacy lives on – in every act of mercy, in every gesture of welcome, in every voice raised for the voiceless.
I commit myself to carrying that legacy in my ministry with the poor and marginalized, with compassion, hospitality, and courage.
Santo subito!
By Jarek Pachocki, OMI