In the “travel bag,” as our beloved and lamented Pope Francis called his autobiography, there are abundant testimonies of the faith of a humane and religious man. Humanity and fidelity to the vocation to which he was called by Christ are, in my view, two of the characteristic traits of a personality nourished by respect and affection for his people, the memory of his roots, the recognition of the enormous effort they had to make to move forward in a new world after overcoming the difficult and painful journey that took them away from their homeland: Italy, and gratitude—gratitude always on his lips, as we have had the opportunity to witness during his twelve years of pontificate.

Without respect, gratitude, and awareness of human and spiritual fragility, personal growth is thwarted, like a tree struck by the storms of everyday life. Little Jorge’s life was a humble neighborhood, a melting pot of cultures where diverse beliefs and circumstances intertwined, most of them linked by a common thread: emigration. He witnessed firsthand the drama of loss in its broadest sense, becoming directly involved in the protection of lives tortured for various reasons. Personal experiences from his childhood and youth, which he explored deeply as he observed sins that diminish the greatness with which we human beings were created, with the Gospel in hand, prepared him to understand and welcome into his merciful heart the helpless, whatever the reasons that led them to plunge into the deep oceans of error. Some tormented by their own mistakes, and others, victims of other people’s passions. None of them lacked his consolation, and his close and tender affection always accompanied them, even from the Vatican chambers. There were phone calls, letters, messages… He buried the faces of pain he held close in his arms, wanting to wipe away their tears. Compassion was another of the external signs of his humanity.

The religious man was not without the human. There is no such separation. We project what we are onto others. And Pope Francis brought with him to Rome the fresh air of the consecrated person who has been faithful to the fiat he pronounced when called by Christ. He was an ascetic. The living of his vows was clear. Poverty characterized his life. Even his final testament reveals the simplicity, humility, and sobriety he knew. Poverty that he lived with joy, characteristic of authentic internal and external detachment. Not only the name he chose at the beginning of his pontificate reflected his love for the poor and marginalized. Not being a theorist of poverty, from the very beginning he displayed the hallmarks that have characterized him: the choral habits he chose and his preference for living with his family, characteristic of a religious community.

As Vicar of Christ, he often had to embrace a cross that would come with many hardships, in addition to the loneliness that came with his lofty mission: discredit, disobedience, unhealthy criticism, what it means to go against the grain, misunderstandings and slander, etc. But he remained steadfast and acted with faith and fortitude. He has never been heard to complain about those who bitterly disagreed with his decisions. He always looked ahead. And so he obeyed the voice of the Holy Spirit, which marked a new era in the Church. And in twelve years, he has steered the boat along different paths. Change is not to be feared, for it brings enormous richness; among other things, it undermines the routines that destroy everything in their path. Francis’s obedience was that of a religious man, that of a missionary. It was marked by availability, a spirit of service, and the ardor of an apostle who knew no boundaries.

He spoke of dialogue and listening because he knew well the crucial importance they had for coexistence. He was a champion of peace and unity, valuing and respecting other beliefs, closing walls and building bridges. He never hesitated when it came to denouncing and eradicating crimes against life, innocence, and the violation of consciences. Always within his personal horizon, he actively and passively conveyed to each of us the tireless experience of holiness.

He himself has expressed his admiration for the role of women in the family and in society by praising the feminine presence to which he has opened doors in the Vatican previously closed to them. The epithets he has dedicated to them are in the newspaper archives. He has never hidden his satisfaction at seeing the fruits of his labor. He also learned this within his family. His grandmother, his mother, and other close women made him see his worth. He would remember it in season and out of season. Having experienced the sweetness of youthful love, he matured emotionally, keeping his vocation intact, aware that everything serves to discern once and for all the true path to which Christ calls when He chooses a person to follow Him. And he protected the virtue of chastity with determination and fortitude. Thus, when inappropriate images fortuitously appeared on the television screen and caused him some distress, he acted as the Gospel indicates: if your eye causes you to sin… pluck it out. Faithfully fulfilling his promise, he never watched television again. Every word given to God is nourished by prayer; this is what Francis did, entrusting himself to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph throughout his life.

These are small glimpses of the spirituality of this great pontiff whom we watch over today and for whom we thank God for allowing us to be blessed by him hours before he took him away. We will always feel gratitude for this beloved Pope who gave himself to us, offering us his prayers and sufferings until his last breath. Rest in peace, dear Francis