LISTEN | Archbishop Aquila Discusses Pope Francis’ Life and Legacy on Dan Caplis Show
- Alex Mulet
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
On the day of Pope Francis’ passing, April 21, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila appeared on the Dan Caplis Show to speak on Pope Francis’ life, legacy and impact on his own ministry as Archbishop of Denver.
Interviewed by Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, Archbishop Aquila emphasized the two defining traits of Pope Francis’ papacy: mercy and forgiveness. Pope Francis, he explained, was “constantly inviting us to be aware of those who live on the peripheries of the world, the homeless, the poor, the immigrant, the unborn.”
Pope Francis’ simplicity and humility were testaments to Christ’s love for the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3).
“The message of the Gospel was very much one that impacted his life — that he gave his life for — and that we, too, are called to imitate that and to live that out in our own lives,” said Archbishop Aquila.
For Archbishop Aquila, Pope Francis was often a source of pastoral encouragement. In 2020, Archbishop Aquila met with Pope Francis and other regional bishops for an engaging discussion on the importance of fostering a personal encounter with Jesus through evangelization.
Archbishop Aquila said that, in subsequent interactions with the Holy Father, “he strengthened me in my ministry by his message and was one who encouraged bishops to really serve others as Christ served.”
Though the universal Church grieves the loss of the beloved Holy Father, his passing on Easter Monday during this Jubilee Year of Hope reminds us that, amid our mourning, we are still called to a spirit of hope in Jesus Christ.
“The greatest way that we could honor him,” Archbishop said, “is by deepening our own encounter with Christ and by reaching out to those who are poor, who are hurting, who are broken, who are wounded, and giving them hope: the hope of the Gospel.”
