A Message from President Hendrickson: Mourning the death of Pope Francis

Dear Creighton Community,

Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the death of Pope Francis.

As the first Jesuit pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church, there is no way to quantify the ways in which Pope Francis’ leadership helped reaffirm our own Creighton mission. His compassion for others and commitment to a ministry that exists not just in the physical confines of a church, but in the actions we take, will leave an indelible mark on the future of the papacy.

Just one of these meaningful contributions was the Pope’s encyclical, Laudato Si’, which was released in 2015 shortly before I started as president at Creighton and strongly championed the need to care for and protect the planet. This guidance was instrumental to the last decade of Creighton’s sustainability efforts and Sustainable Creighton Initiative, which will be detailed tomorrow at our Earth Day Appreciation Reception.

Additionally, as a faith leader Pope Francis called attention to serve individuals and communities in need. At its best, Creighton embraces this call in the Ignatian tradition that inspired him and has guided our institution for nearly 150 years.

Pope Francis’ direct and meaningful engagement with our Creighton community was truly extraordinary. During his tenure, students and faculty alike had the privilege of conversing with and even meeting the Pope. I had the honor of doing so myself in April of 2022 and it is a memory that I will carry with me forever, as I am sure it will be for all those who had the honor of encountering him.

On both our Omaha and Phoenix campuses, we are eager to hold special Masses in Pope Francis’ memory, including tolling the St. John’s bells 88 times, reflecting Pope Francis’ age. Please watch for upcoming communications about these events as details are finalized.

Understandably, there will be much discussion over the coming days and weeks about the future leadership of the Church, and there will no doubt be opportunities for Catholics of all backgrounds to re-engage with the lessons of what it means to be in service to God. As we look ahead, I also hope that we continue to always be inspired by Pope Francis’ care for the marginalized, for our common home, and for the institutions that support the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In the last few weeks, as the Pope battled severe illness, the world came together in prayer. Through personal and spiritual strength, he was able to translate that outpouring of support into a final Easter address where he asked that we mark this holiest of days by renewing our trust in others and opening our arms to those different than us.

With his final message to the world, Pope Francis reflected the Jesuit, Catholic values that shape our University and guide our mission. Let us pray for Pope Francis, the Catholic Church, and for all those who are missing his presence today. As we reflect on his legacy let his words be a light to shine a path forward toward a better world for all.

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Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD
President, Creighton University