Statement by Andrew McKeough on the Passing of Pope Francis
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release | April 21, 2025
Statement by Andrew McKeough on the Passing of Pope Francis
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis, a spiritual leader whose humility, courage and compassion left a lasting mark on the world and on my own life.
I will never forget seeing him in 2015, when he visited Philadelphia. The energy that surrounded his visit was unlike anything I had experienced before — our city came together in joy, reverence and hope. I remember that, just in that moment, it wasn’t just his presence — it was the peace he carried that moved so many of us.
Years later, I had the immense privilege of seeing Pope Francis again — once in 2021 and again in 2023, both times at the Vatican. To witness him in that sacred place, still driven by faith and deep concern for the most vulnerable among us, was profoundly moving. Even in the quietest moments, he radiated a sense of purpose that reminded me of the power of servant leadership.
Pope Francis championed the poor, embraced the outcast, and called on all of us to care for one another and for our planet. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those he touched — Catholic and non-Catholic alike.
May he rest in eternal peace.
-Andrew K. McKeough