James O'Reilly
Pope Francis was a specialist in closeness.
This is how those who covered his papacy remember him, such as Gian Guido Vecchi, Vatican correspondent for the Italian magazine Corriere della Sera.
He says he will never forget Pope Francis’ trip to the Philippines in 2015, when he visited an area devastated by one of the deadliest typhoons in its history.
GIAN GUIDO VECCHI
Vatican correspondent, Corriere della Sera
He looked ahead at the people who were crying, and everyone was in silence. He handed the pages back to his secretary and improvised the homily on the spot—it was one of the most beautiful homilies he ever delivered.
POPE FRANCIS
Many of you have lost part of your family. I can only remain silent; I accompany you with my heart, in silence.
Vecchi has written a book that analyzes the pontificate of Pope Francis titled Life. Courage. Faith.
GIAN GUIDO VECCHI
Vatican correspondent, Corriere della Sera
It is a pontificate that gave the Church a jolt—a jolt that the Church needed.
A jolt that took the shape of reforms in many cases—for the Vatican Curia, financial management, and pastoral work. Also his nearly 50 international trips and the major global summit against the abuse of minors that he convened in Rome.
These were complex tasks that demanded much from his trusted aides, who were not afraid to present him—respectfully and clearly—with the pros and cons of his decisions.
This was the case for Guzmán Carriquiry, who worked in the Vatican departments for the laity and Latin America, and he later served as Uruguay’s ambassador to the Holy See.
GUZMÁN CARRIQUIRY
Author, The Witness
He liked people to speak to him frankly. Even though he would then discern for himself. Sometimes it would go in one ear and out the other. Or he would say yes, yes, but in reality it meant no, no.
Now Pope Leo XIV takes up the torch—with a different style, but with the same mission: to spread the Gospel and to write another chapter in the history of the Church.
