Statement from Catholic Volunteer Network on the Passing of Pope Francis

From Cecilia Flores, Executive Director, Catholic Volunteer Network

Today, we join people around the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis—a humble leader, a courageous advocate for justice, and a tireless champion for those on the margins. His life and leadership resonate deeply with the mission of Catholic Volunteer Network: to accompany, to uplift, and to serve with love and integrity.

Pope Francis never saw service as something secondary—it was central to his vision of a meaningful life. He reminded us that true leadership is found in compassion, and that dignity is not something we grant, but something we honor in every person. Through his witness, he invited us to look beyond ourselves and to build a world rooted in care, equity, and connection.

As a Catholic, Pope Francis has had a profound impact on my own spiritual journey. I first felt a deep connection to him during my time serving in Honduras. His pastoral approach and theological grounding—shaped by the Latin American Church and its commitment to liberation, accompaniment, and the dignity of the poor—reflected the very spirit I encountered daily in the communities I was blessed to walk with. He gave language and validation to a way of living faith that was rooted in humility, resilience, and shared struggle. His leadership didn’t just inspire me—it helped form me.

He often lifted up the quiet, steady presence of those who serve. In his 2022 message for International Volunteer Day, he called volunteers “the strength of the Church”—a simple but powerful recognition of the impact everyday people can make when they commit to compassion in action. Across traditions and backgrounds, volunteers remind us that real change begins with listening, showing up, and standing in solidarity with others. Their presence is often the thread that holds communities together.

In 2021, I had the honor of participating in the World Meeting of Popular Movements, where Pope Francis spoke directly to grassroots leaders and organizers. He said:

“I like to call you this: social poets, because you have the ability and the courage to create hope where there appears to be only waste and exclusion. Poetry means creativity, and you create hope. With your hands, you know how to shape the dignity of each person, of families and of society as a whole, with land, housing, work, care, and community.”

Read the full message

That message is one I carry with me still. At Catholic Volunteer Network, we remain committed to cultivating leaders and communities rooted in service, grounded in shared values, and open to the sacred work of building a more just, compassionate, and liberated world.

We honor Pope Francis’s legacy not just with words, but with action.

As we grieve his passing and celebrate his life, we invite our network and all who are moved by his vision to pause in prayer. Let us give thanks for his bold witness, ask for guidance in continuing the work he championed, and pray for the global Church as it discerns the path forward. May Pope Francis’s memory be a blessing—and a call.