Pope Leo XIV recalls Pope Francis’s legacy of mercy and solidarity

Pope Leo XIV Honors Predecessor Francis on First Death Anniversary

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis on Tuesday, the first anniversary of Francis’ death, highlighting the late pontiff’s emphasis on God’s mercy and his solidarity with the poor.

“We thank the Lord for the great gift of the life of Francis, to the church and the world,” Leo said, speaking to reporters in Italian aboard the papal plane while traveling from Angola to Equatorial Guinea during the final leg of his four-nation African tour.

Francis died on Easter Monday last year at age 88 after suffering a stroke. He had been recovering at the Vatican following a five-week hospitalization for double pneumonia. Despite his health challenges, he had managed to deliver a final Easter greeting to the faithful with a popemobile appearance through St. Peter’s Square before his death.

In his airborne tribute, Leo recalled specific homilies and messages from Francis’ papacy with remarkable precision. “He gave so much to the church with his life, with his witness, with his word and with his gestures,” Leo said. “So many times what he did was live truly being close to the poorest, the smallest, the sick, children, the elderly.”

Leo specifically mentioned Francis’ advocacy for human fraternity and “authentic respect” among all peoples. He also highlighted the special Holy Year of Mercy that Francis declared in 2015, which the late pontiff symbolically opened in the Central African Republic—a region Leo’s plane was passing over during his remarks.

“Let us pray that he is still enjoying the mercy of the Lord,” Leo concluded.

The anniversary was marked by various commemorations in Rome, including the release of books about Francis and a memorial Mass at St. Mary Major basilica, where Francis is entombed.

Among the new publications, a book by Vatican journalist Salvatore Cernuzio titled “Padre” offers unique insights into the relationship between Francis and his successor. Cernuzio, who developed a close personal relationship with Francis and often traveled in his entourage, reveals private conversations from their meetings at the Santa Marta residence where Francis lived.

In one revealing anecdote from 2023, Francis described then-Cardinal Robert Prevost—whom he had recently brought to Rome to head the Vatican’s bishop-vetting office—as “a saint.” The comment adds weight to speculation that Francis had envisioned Prevost as a potential successor. According to Cernuzio, when Francis called someone a saint, it typically referred to “people who are able to handle conflicts, tensions, and complex situations with composure, and who are able to foster a sense of community.”

Evidence suggests Francis deliberately positioned Prevost for papal succession. After Prevost completed two terms as head of the Order of St. Augustine, Francis appointed him bishop of Chiclayo, Peru in 2014, where he gained valuable leadership experience. Francis later elevated him to head the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, providing him crucial Vatican experience and connections with cardinals who would eventually select Francis’ successor.

This strategic positioning helped Prevost overcome what had long been considered an insurmountable obstacle in papal elections: his American citizenship. Historically, the Church had maintained an unwritten rule against selecting an American pope, given the significant geopolitical influence the United States already wields globally.

The two men had known each other since Prevost served as Augustinian prior general while then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Despite a minor disagreement years earlier over a personnel assignment that Prevost had thought might have soured their relationship, Bergoglio not only remembered him but elevated him through increasingly significant Church positions.

Prevost later shared with parishioners in his home state of Illinois that he had “naively” thought Francis would not remember him after becoming pope, or that “he’ll never appoint me bishop” due to their earlier disagreement. Instead, Francis not only appointed him bishop but systematically prepared him to become the next leader of the Catholic Church.