Remembering the first Jesuit pope
On March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected pope on the second day of the conclave. He became the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years. He was also the first Jesuit pope,听. Below are some of the articles, photographs, and meetings that connected Pope Francis with members of the BC community during his 12 years of service.
BC and the Papal Vision
Pope Francis - A New Way of Being Church (VIDEO):听Clough School听of Theology and Ministry Associate Professor of the Practice Rafael Luciani discussed 鈥減astoral conversion鈥� and 鈥渟ynodality鈥� as the key theological categories that lay at the heart of Pope Francis鈥檚 vision of church (2019).
Pope Francis's Vision for the Church:听Former Clough School dean Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., and Professor Luciani spoke to BC Magazine about the pope's goals for the future (2020).
The Future of the Priesthood:听A book, edited by BC theologians, suggested reforms in seminary formation and the exercise of ordained ministry听(2022).
Why A Synod On Synodality? (VIDEO):听Professor听Luciani and听Kristin Colberg, assistant professor of theology at St. John's School of Theology,听traced the origins of the synod on synodality to the reforms of Vatican II to the present (2022).
Coming Together to Move Forward:听Bishops and theologians discussed the future of the U.S. Catholic Church at a conference co-sponsored by BC's Boisi Center听(2022).
鈥淭he Way Forward: Pope Francis, Vatican II, and Synodality鈥�:听Catholic Church leaders, theologians, historians, and journalists convened at Boston College for a major conference (2023).
Reflecting on Pope Francis's Vision for the Church:听A book with contributions from many BC faculty and alumni sought to expand the reception of the first Jesuit pope (2024).
Papal Meetings
听Two BC students made the switch with the holy figure while studying in Italy听(2013).
听Former two-time Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy '77, J.D. '80, weclomed the pope to the nation's capital during his U.S. visit听(2015).
A Special Fan:听Alumna Brooke Dunkley '12 made a fashion statement with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square听(2016).
(L to R): Kelly McGrath '15, Dean Stegman, and Brooke Dunkley '12 meet Pope Francis
When Jesuits meet:听Dean Stegman met Pope Francis at Jesuit General Congregation 36听(2016).
Papal encounter:听Alumna听Kelly听McGrath had the opportunity to meet the pope during the course of an internship at the Vatican one summer听(2016).
Clough School Professor Hosffman Ospino shook Pope Francis's hand in Rome (2017).
Cover story:听During a visit to the Vatican, Clough School Professor Thomas Groome and Professor of the Practice of Theology Msgr. Liam Bergin presented Pope Francis with a copy of听C21 Resources听(2018).
Papal audience: Clough School Associate Professor of the Practice Rafael Luciani discussed CSTM initiatives with Pope Francis. (2018)
Thomas Groome and Msgr. Liam Bergin presenting Pope Francis with C21 Resources
Papal Connections
Papal appointment:听Clough School student Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, was appointed by Pope Francis as an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, the first woman to hold the position (2021). |
Dominic Chai, S.J., and Sister Nathalie Becquart
Becoming a synodal Church:听Sister Becquart gave an update on the Synod on Synodality a year later听(2022).
The Spirit is at work. Are we paying attention?:听Clough School Associate Dean听Anthony Russo reflected on a pilgrimage to Rome for the opening of the Synod of Bishops听(2023).
Clough School students travel to Rome for synodal pilgrimage: The group was part of a network representing 14 U.S. universities and colleges
Updates from Rome:听The听CSTM delegation to Rome听for an immersion experience around the Synod on Synodality offered daily reflections听(2024).
Papal Social Snaps
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During a conference at the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome, Professor Andr茅 Brouillette, SJ, presented with his most recent book, a volume co-edited with Professor Jeffrey Bloechl.
— Boston College (@BostonCollege)
Pope Francis received first copy of the Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, a scholarly work on early Christian history, from Publisher Louise Schouten and the Editors Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte , David G. Hunter , and Paul van Geest
— Religious & Biblical (@Brill_Religious)
Papal Books
Pope Francis was the topic of many books authored by members of the BC community. The following titles appeared in听BC Bookmarks,听a blog about books written by BC faculty, staff, and alumni.
- 听(2018):听The Church in the 21st Century Center takes a fresh look at the role of churches, and individual Christians, in relating to poverty and the poor among them.
- 听(2018): This book is based on a 2017 conference at BC in which Pope Francis鈥� family life exhortation听could be applied at the local level.听
- 听(2018):听Clough School Associate Professor of the Practice Rafael Luciani translated听Pope Francis and the Theology of the People听- originally written in Spanish - into English.
- 听(2019): Written by author听Daniel P. Horan, a BC alumnus.
- 听(2020):听BC alumnus听Marcus Mescher听presents an ethical framework for building what Pope Francis has called a 鈥渃ulture of encounter.鈥澨�
- 听(2021): Written by BC alumnus Marcus Mescher.
- 听(2022): Writen by Clough School of Theology and Ministry听Associate Professor of the Practice Rafael Luciani.听
- 听(2024):听Co-edited by Joseph Professor in Catholic Theology听Kristin Heyer听and BC alumnus听Conor Kelly with many faculty contributions.听
Answering his call
Young people's voices: In response to the call of Pope Francis, Boston College Church in the 21st Century Center launched a project to collect young people鈥檚 thoughts about their faith and the future of the Catholic Church.
The Papal Legacy
After Pope Francis's death on April 21, 2025, the Boston College community reflected on the papacy of the first Jesuit pope.听
Pope Francis (1936-2025):听BC President William P. Leahy, S.J., issued a statement on the passing of the first Jesuit pope.听
Legacy of Pope Francis:听Several Boston College faculty reflected on Pope Francis' 12 years of service.听听
The Guiding Light of Pope Francis: BC's Church in the 21st Century Center prepared a compendium of articles related to the Holy Father's writings, drawn from the archives of C21 Resources.
Remembering Pope Francis: Clough School community members shared lessons learned that they will carry with them.
Pope Francis鈥檚 Leadership of 鈥淪mall Gestures": CSTM doctoral candidate Brenda Noriega-flores shares a reflection听based on four encounters she had with the pope as a young adult leader, educator, and minister.
Professor of Theology Stephen Pope wrote 听in听Commonweal听about how Pope Francis taught and lived the beatitudes.
Clough School Professor Hosffman Ospino met the pope in 2017
Many Boston College faculty contributed commentary to media coverage of the pope's death, including the following:
- Clough School Dean Michael McCarthy, S.J.: 听and
- Clough School Professor Thomas Groome: , , and
- Clough School Professor Hosffman Ospino:
- Professor of Sociology Gustavo Morello, S.J.:
- Clough School Professor听John Baldovin,听S.J.:听
What Happens Next
A pope's death is steeped in tradition, as is the election of a new pope. BC community members have helped to explain both:
- Theology Associate Professor Rev.听James Weiss explained听what happens after the pope dies in the听.
- Editor-in-Chief Sam Sawyer, S.J., '00, M.Div.'14,听described waiting in line to say goodbye to Pope Francis with pilgrims from around the world in .
- Theology Associate Professor Rev. James M. Weiss analyzes possible outcomes of conclave for .
Social Media Tributes
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