“Dear Marywood Community:
We learned with great sorrow of the passing of Pope Francis. Last spring, I traveled with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities to Rome as a newly-elected university president. During that time, I was truly honored and deeply humbled to have met His Holiness Pope Francis — an unforgettable moment of grace and inspiration and a privilege that I will cherish forever.
Pope Francis led the Catholic Church and guided our faith and our shared beliefs for 12 years, but he also spoke to all of humanity and to each of our hearts, whether or not we profess the Catholic faith, leading by example with mercy, humility, compassion, love, and hope towards all people. I find it fitting that his final message to us was one of hope. He established 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope, issued a Lenten message titled, “Let us journey together in hope,” and, just yesterday, in his final Easter message, stated, “On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!"
May we take comfort in his words and go forward blessed and inspired by his humble example of love, hope, and care for one another.

- Lisa A. Lori, J.D., President of Marywood University