Upon receiving the news of the death of Pope Francis on the morning of 21 April 2025, Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, wrote to the Congregation of Holy Cross, expressing how “his death touches us deeply.”

“We in the Congregation of Holy Cross join with the whole Church, and really the whole world, in mourning the death of Pope Francis,” said Br. Bednarczyk. “After appearing yesterday on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to give his Urbi et Orbi blessing and then greeting pilgrims in the square, the Holy Father’s passing on this Easter Monday is especially poignant. As we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this Easter season, let us also celebrate the entrance into eternal life of our beloved Pope Francis.”

“All of us will remember his first greeting to the world as Pope with the simple words, buona sera,” he continued. “It was this spirit of simplicity that characterized his entire papacy and which endeared him to people of all faiths across the globe. ‘The Church is for everyone,’ he would often say. He showed this in his outreach to the poor, the marginalized, and those who remain on the periphery of the Church and society in general. His reforms of the Roman Curia, and most especially, his call for a more synodal Church will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the future of our Church.”

During his 12 years shepherding the Universal Church, there were many connections, interactions, and collaborations, between Pope Francis and the Congregation of Holy Cross. The themes of his pontificate resonate well with the Congregation’s hope-filled spirituality and its mission priorities of educating in the faith and serving with a preferential option for the poor. Several moments stand out in particular.

On 19 November 2016, to help mark the conclusion of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis elevated Most Rev. Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., then Archbishop of Dhaka, to the College of Cardinals, making him the first cardinal from the predominantly Muslim country of Bangladesh. He also became the second cardinal in the history of Holy Cross.

The following year, when Pope Francis made his apostolic journey to Bangladesh on 30 November to 2 December 2017, the local Holy Cross community featured prominently during his visit. During his stop to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Dhaka, he blessed the grave of Servant of God Theotonius Ganguly, former Archbishop of Dhaka. During the trip, the pope also prayed for Servant of God Flavian Laplante upon hearing the testimony of Br. Lawrence Dias, C.S.C., who continues his work at Mariam Ashram in Diang, outside of Chittagong.

Just two weeks after that trip to Bangladesh, on 18 December 2017, Pope Francis approved the Decree of the Heroic Virtue of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., thus bestowing on him the title of “Venerable”. The declaration brought Fr. Peyton, known worldwide as the “Rosary Priest” for his tireless promotion of the rosary and family prayer, advances one step closer to canonization.

Then, on 1 February 2024, for the second time during his pontificate, Pope Francis received the leaders of the University of Notre Dame and its Board of Trustees in a private audience, in which he expounded on the Congregation’s charism as educators in the faith. Quoting from the Congregation’s founder, Blessed Basile Moreau, the Holy Father reflected on the three “languages” of mind, heart, and hands which “together … provide a horizon within which Catholic academic communities can strive to form strong and well-integrated leaders whose vision of life is animated by the teaching of Christ.”

On a personal note, Br. Bednarczyk mentioned to the Congregation that he had met Pope Francis on four occasions, two of which were meetings of the Union of Superiors General (USG).

“At each of the USG gatherings, Pope Francis did not give us a formal speech, but chose instead to engage us in a dialogue with him. It was obvious to me that he was comfortable being with fellow religious. I was struck by his frank honesty, quick wit, and genuine warmth—all sustained by his deeply rooted faith,” he said.

Giving thanks for his pastoral leadership of the Universal Church, Br. Bednarczyk called upon “all members and communities of the Congregation of Holy Cross to honor the Holy Father’s memory with their prayers and Masses. May the soul of Pope Francis, and all of our faithfully departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.”