When people look back on the life and legacy of Pope Francis, many focus on the ways he challenged tradition, spoke directly to the people, and never shied away from difficult conversations. But according to Father Arturo Sosa, the leader of the Jesuits, there’s something deeper behind it all — a life centered on faith, prayer, and a commitment to God’s will.
At a press conference held in Rome at the Jesuit general curia, Father Sosa opened up about the character and spiritual strength of the late pontiff, offering a personal and moving reflection on what truly defined Pope Francis.
A Disciple First, Not a Celebrity
Father Sosa made it clear that Pope Francis never aimed to win popularity points. “He did not seek to please everyone,” Sosa said, emphasizing that Francis didn’t let approval ratings or public opinion guide his actions. “Once he chose to be a disciple of Jesus, his deep motivation in life was to put God’s will into practice.”
That strong sense of purpose came through in his daily life. Sosa described the pope as “a man of prayer” — someone who regularly asked others to pray for him so he could make the right decisions according to God’s will.
What the Next Pope Should Be Like
Of course, the conversation naturally turned to what kind of qualities the Church needs in its next pope. Father Sosa didn’t hesitate. “Undoubtedly, we are looking for another man of God,” he said.
But beyond spiritual strength, Sosa said it’s important that the next pope has a broader worldview. He made an interesting distinction between someone with an “international” outlook and one with a “universal” perspective — someone who doesn’t just understand various cultures, but embraces the global Church as one connected body.
Addressing the Controversies Head-On
Father Sosa also took the opportunity to defend Pope Francis against criticism that he caused division in the Church. From documents like Fiducia Supplicans, which addressed same-sex blessings, to his strong opinions on social issues, Francis faced plenty of pushback during his time.
But Sosa pushed back on the idea that Francis was the source of conflict. “He was not the source of problems in the Church,” he said. “He inherited problems that were already there.” What Francis did, according to Sosa, was bring those disagreements into the open and encourage honest dialogue. He gave people a seat at the table.
Was Francis a Reformer? Not Quite
Interestingly, Sosa doesn’t quite see Pope Francis as a reformer — at least not in the traditional sense. “I don’t think of Pope Francis as a reformer,” he admitted. Instead, Francis was someone who listened, engaged, and tried to bring people together, all while remaining deeply grounded in his faith.
He wasn’t trying to rebuild the Church from scratch. He was trying to bring clarity, conversation, and compassion to a deeply complex institution.
