Following the death of Pope Francis, Fr Damian Howard SJ — Catholic Chaplain at the University of Oxford and former Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain —reflected on the legacy of Pope Francis in a recent interview with BBC News. His remarks captured the profound sense of grief and gratitude felt across the Society of Jesus and the wider Church.

Fr Damian spoke of the unique bond Jesuits felt with Pope Francis, not simply because he was the first Jesuit pope, but because of his way of leading, one marked by familiarity, understanding, and spiritual kinship. 

He recalled the state of the Church in 2013, when Francis assumed the papacy during a period of crisis and disillusionment: “It’s very easy to overlook and forget the fact that when he took over the Papacy in 2013 the Church itself was in profound crisis. To truly judge the achievement of Pope Francis it’s really important to look at the state of the Church today. It still has its problems but its fundamentally a church of vibrancy, missionary outreach, and has credibility, even for young people.”

A significant part of Pope Francis’s legacy, according to Fr Damian, lies in the way he re-engaged young people with the faith: “It’s been very interesting just noticing in recent weeks a real interest in the Church in this country on the part of young people. I felt that very much here in the University of Oxford.”

When asked about the upcoming conclave, Fr Damian acknowledged the continuity that runs through the papacy, despite differences in personality or emphasis: “Look at the fundamental continuity between the last popes. It’s extraordinary. 98% of what they say is the same… The question now must surely be: who is now best suited to address a world, at least to hear the message of Christ, the timeless message of Christ, in this particularly challenging context that we face.”

As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, Fr Damian’s reflections remind us that his was a papacy shaped not by authority alone, but by fraternity, courage, and the steady conviction that renewal is possible.

Banner photo by Ágatha Depiné on Unsplash