Remembering Pope Francis with Hope and Gratitude

Hubert Benitez, D.D.S. Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University, issued this statement on the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025:

Today is a day marked by deep sorrow. Pope Francis leaves an indelible mark on the world and on society. He was a humble leader of the Catholic Church and a voice for compassion and justice. As many of us grieve today, I would like to remember the first Jesuit Pope with hope and gratitude; con esperanza y gratitud.

His life was a testament to the mission and values Saint Peter’s University embodies. In his book “Let Us Dream”, Pope Francis shared with us that “this is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities – what we value, what we want, what we seek – and commit to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of.”  A champion for justice and education and for walking with the marginalized, Pope Francis invited Catholic colleges and universities to be part of a cultural and social process of transformation. May this be the time for us to reflect deeply, and to accompany each other while we continue in our quest of increasing the recognition of the University as an important contributor to the to the communities we serve, as an institution that provides access and opportunity to all, as a university that offers a values-based education, all while preserving our Jesuit mission, traditions, and core values. In his own words, “education is always an act of love and hope that, from the present, looks to the future for a renewed society”.

In these coming days, we will gather in prayer and reflection, and we will have an opportunity to remember and celebrate Pope Francis with affection, as we give thanks for the values he held close and shared so generously. May he rest in peace y que Dios lo tenga en su santa gloria.