The world mourns the death of Pope Francis, a transformative and often polarizing figure who redefined the modern papacy through humility, compassion, and a deep commitment to social justice. As news of his passing spread, the Mount Saint Joseph Academy community reflected on the powerful legacy he leaves behind — one that touched hearts, sparked dialogue, and continues to shape the faith and values of students and faculty alike.
Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. He was known for his humility and strong focus on social justice, often speaking out on immigration, poverty and the importance of mercy. His legacy is one of hope, compassion and kindness.
Students and faculty who found personal meaning in his words and actions, reflect on how his legacy continues to shape their values and perspectives.
“I was so sad because I think the Pope was a wonderful man and I really liked his values. I think he was one of our best popes,” Savannah Miller ‘28 said.
Pope Francis is know for his hands on approach to ministry, always stepping outside the Vatican to connect directly with those in need.
“I love the fact that he was a Pope of the people and with the people the day that he died. He went out at Saint Peter’s Square and was with the people and blessed them on Easter day,” Theology teacher Mrs. Maureen Furletti said.
As the spread of his death spread, communities were hit with a sense of devastation and dismay. When students described their initial reactions to the death of Pope Francis words like “Shocking,” came to mind.
“I didn’t even think it was real. I didn’t believe it when people told me because I didn’t think that it would happen,” Kristen Savage ‘26 said.
“I knew it was coming since he was in the hospital for a long time but I didn’t expect it to actually happen,” Maddy Moeller ‘27 said.
As the Church prepares to elect a new pope, both students and teachers are already imagining what this election will hold and what to do moving forward. For some, the news sparked deeper reflection — both professionally and personally.
“I have been thinking about it a lot as a theology teacher and how I can communicate his life and legacy to my students. I also think about it as a mom and what it is going to be like for the future of the church and especially the future of the church for my children,” Mrs. Furletti said.
Pope Francis being one of few non-European Popes, curiosity has sprung regarding the ethnicity of the new Pope.
“I’m really interested to find out who will be elected next especially because the most likely candidate is from the Philippines. I think that’ll be really interesting to have another non-European pope,” Rahel Rhego ‘26 said.
While many admired Pope Francis, students have mixed opinions and felt as though he could have done more.
“He wasn’t very for women empowerment,” Jenna Miller ‘26 said, referring to the lack of changes regarding women’s leadership roles in the Church.
Not all students felt connected or closely followed the Pope’s leadership and role in the Catholic Church.
“I didn’t really pay attention to him,” Kelsea Pinkerton ‘26 said.
As TikTok increasingly becomes a source for breaking news, some students said they first heard about Pope Francis’s alleged death on the app before seeing any official reports.
“I saw it on tiktok and I was shocked and had to go to the comments to make sure it was real,” Bridget Murray ‘28 said.
“I woke up and found out about it on TikTok,” Erin Romano ‘26 said.
The process of electing a new pope is very complicated but Mounties seem to have a good grasp of how it works and are invested in who will be elected next.
“There’s a nine day period where cardinals are in charge and then they vote. If two-thirds of the cardinals don’t agree on the same candidate, they burn the vote and continue the process until a new Pope is chosen,” Ally Mancini ‘26 said.
