“Don’t Forget the Poor”: The Words that Shaped the Pontificate of Pope Francis

In a heartfelt hour of tribute on The Inner Life, Patrick Conley and Fr. James Kubicki, SJ, honored the life and mission of Pope Francis, who has now passed on to eternal life. As a fellow Jesuit and spiritual director, Fr. Kubicki offered deep insights into the heart of the man who changed the papacy—and the Church—with radical simplicity and love.

Fr. Kubicki described Pope Francis as a man madly in love with Jesus. Formed by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, he didn’t just admire Christ—he imitated Him. This shaped everything, from his first papal words about mercy and prayer to his daily decisions rooted in service.

For Pope Francis, the Church didn’t belong in marble halls but among the wounded. His call: “Go to the peripheries.” His first trip as pope was to the migrant-filled island of Lampedusa, where he decried the “globalization of indifference.” Whether aiding refugees or visiting the sick, he lived as a missionary disciple.

Though a Jesuit, Pope Francis chose his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, not St. Francis Xavier. The reason? A fellow cardinal once told him: “Don’t forget the poor.” And he never did. He created the World Day of the Poor, empowered the Papal Almoner for hands-on charity, and lived in a guesthouse instead of the papal palace.

Pope Francis provided showers and beds for Rome’s homeless, had ambulances sent to Ukraine, and refused to be driven or cooked for as a cardinal in Buenos Aires. As a bishop, he was known to regularly be found on the No. 7 bus—because he rode it with the people.

Listeners called in with their own transformations. One convert admitted to once believing the worst about him—until Pope Francis’ humility softened his heart. Another recalled stories of the Pope shunning ego and embracing simplicity. “The ego is not your friend,” she said.

Fr. Kubicki summed it up best: Pope Francis reminded us that the Church exists not to glorify itself, but to serve the world for Christ.

He showed us that holiness smells like sheep, walks to the outskirts, and sometimes rides the bus.

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