CELEBRATING POPE FRANCIS: A LEGACY OF COMPASSION AND UNITY
Statement by Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States
ST. LOUIS — “Those of us serving in Catholic health care join Christians and so many others throughout the world as we grieve the passing and celebrate the life of Pope Francis.
“Pope Francis witnessed Christ’s love and mercy to all people, particularly those at the margins of society. He reflected this in his memorable description of the ‘Church as a field hospital’ and his call to heal the wounds of our world through love and charity. During his papacy, he advanced the Church’s work in health care through his unwavering advocacy for ethical care for all, particularly during the COVID pandemic and in areas of the world stricken by disease and natural disasters.
“Pope Francis always led with compassion, inclusivity, and humility. Through his leadership, he brought the joy of the Gospel to the everyday lives of people from all walks of faith. Pope Francis leaves a legacy for all of us to emulate and for which we are forever grateful. Let us remember that the greatest tribute we can make is to keep working toward the realization of his vision for the Church.”
There have been countless contributions of Pope Francis’s papacy. Below, find just a few invaluable themes, quotes, and resources that honor and remember his legacy.
Encounter, Humility & Mercy
"The culture of encounter is about knowing that beyond our differences, something greater unites us and transcends; it is an encounter in which every person can recognize herself/himself and her/his dignity is restored as a child of God. Creating this culture is everybody’s responsibility.”
Chaplains, Pope Francis and the Healing Encounter
Ethics - Catholic Health Care and a Culture of Encounter
Care for Creation
"We received this world as an inheritance from past generations, but also as a loan from future generations, to whom we will have to return it!"
Laudato Si’ and Catholic Health Care
Everything is Connected, with prayer from Laudato Si’
Human Flourishing & the Common Good
"In our world marked by so many conflicts and divisions, which are often the result of an inability to look beyond individual interests," the Pope lamented, "it is of great importance to recall the common good, one of the cornerstones of the Church’s social teaching."
Fratelli tutti, Encyclical letter on fraternity and social friendship (3 October 2020)
A Holistic Vision of Human Flourishing
Mission and Leadership- Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching, and Medicaid
Embrace Bold | CHA Assembly 2024 | Andrew E. Gottlieb Spoken Word Artist
Opportunity for Sharing
As we join in prayer, mourning, and celebration of life, please contribute your thoughts on the CHA LinkedIn page. Let us elevate together the Holy Father’s legacy.
"What contribution would you say Francis's Papacy has had on the Catholic Health Ministry and the Global Church?"