The Life and Legacy of Pope Francis

On April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, people around the world awoke to the news that Pope Francis had passed away at the age of 88. For listeners of Off the Page, it will be no surprise that a pope who took the name “Francis” would come up often in the Franciscan conversations featured on this podcast. This episode is a compilation of both published and unpublished interviews where guests talk about the life, legacy, and papacy of Pope Francis. Included here is Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, talking about Pope Francis’ heart for the poor; Dr. Daniel P. Horan discussing how God’s love and mercy was a cornerstone to Pope Francis’ pontificate; Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, talking about Pope Francis' unique ability to, like St. Francis of Assisi, speak the language of the people and make the Catholic faith accessible; Br. Keith Warner, OFM, dissecting the Franciscan undertones in Pope Francis' encyclicals; and the poet Dr. Angela Alaimo O’Donnell discussing the pope’s love for art and literature. This episode also begins with a recording from 2021 with Sr. Margaret Carney, where she frames Pope Francis’ papacy as one that is uniquely Franciscan. And this episode concludes with some of Pope Francis’ own words about divine mercy, translated and recorded on audiobook in the Franciscan Media title "Believe in Love."

Click here to read this episode's show notes.

(00:00:01) Introduction

(00:05:01) Franciscan Legacy (Sr. Margaret Carney)

(00:07:57) Transition

(00:08:16) Heart for the Poor (Fr. Murray Bodo)

(00:13:36) Transition

(00:14:45) Mission of Mercy (Dr. Dan Horan)

(00:19:09) Transition

(00:20:01) A Relatable Communicator (Sr. Margaret Carney)

(00:21:14) Transition

(00:22:04) The Most Franciscan Encyclical Ever (Br. Keith Warner)

(00:34:11) Transition

(00:35:52) Deep Love for Art and Literature (Dr. Angela Alaimo O'Donnell)

(00:46:55) Conclusion

(00:47:49) Be An Architect of Mercy (Pope Francis)