Pope Leo Honors Francis, Carries Legacy

0:00It's April 21st. This is U.S. News Today. U.S. News powered by AI. Pope Leo just marked the one-year anniversary of Pope Francis's death with a heartfelt tribute. Francis passed away at ADA from a stroke-last Easter Monday, right after recovering from double pneumonia. He'd even given a final way from the Pope-mobile in St. Peter's Square. Leo, the American Pope now leading the church, got elected just weeks later in the Conclave. He shared these words in Italian with reporters on his papal plane, flying from Angola to Equatorial Guinea during a four-nation Africa trip. Leo remembered Francis' powerful homilies on mercy, human brotherhood, and staying close to the poor, the sick, kids, and elders. Notably, he mentioned that special holy year in 2015 that Francis kicked off in the Central African Republic right as Leo's plane passed. Folks close to Francis, like Vatican reporter Salvatore Sanusio, recall how the late Pope saw big potential in then Cardinal Robert Prevost, who became Leo.

1:04Francis straight-up called him a sing back in 2023, praising his calm and tough spots and community building skills that endorsement carried weight. Francis built Leo's path step-by-step from missionary work in Peru for two decades to Bishop there, then top Vatican roles vetting bishops. It broke the old taboo against the U.S. Pope, thanks to those connections with Cardinals. Their friendship went back years, even to when Francis was Archbishop in Buenos Aires and clashed lightly with Prevost over a priest assignment. Leo wrapped his thoughts by asking everyone to pray, Francis is basking in the Lord's mercy now, carrying forward that legacy of closeness and forgiveness across the church.