Pope Francis: A Journey from Skepticism to Beloved Papacy

In a heartfelt reflection, Jim Yardley recounts the incredible moments of papal visits that highlighted Pope Francis' extraordinary ability to engage with people on the peripheries.

I vividly remember the sea of faces—thousands, oftentimes even hundreds of thousands—pressing together in stadiums or lining the streets during Pope Francis' visits. One standout memory from 2016 was in the Mexican state of Chiapas, where an entire local stadium seemed to swell with excitement, packed with people craning their necks to glimpse the pope's helicopter descending into a dust-filled sky.

In another instance, as he arrived in Morelia, the atmosphere was electric. Despite his tardiness, the energy remained palpable; a local band played joyfully, nuns waved colorful pom-poms, and priests along with seminarians filled the air with dance and chants, eagerly anticipating Francis’ appearance. From the moment he emerged as a surprising pope amidst a rainy Vatican night in 2013, his focus leaned on what he termed “the peripheries”—those individuals and groups often overlooked in a globalized society. He amplified voices of the marginalized, championing the causes of immigrants and the impoverished, and sought them out on his worldwide travels while they, in turn, embraced him.

While any pope can attract large crowds, Francis possessed an enigmatic quality that set him apart. His speaking style might not have been dazzling, yet it was his mere presence that resonated deeply with people, transcending traditional boundaries to create a unique connection.