“Laudato Si’ Commission Member, Pax Romana IMCS Asia Pacific

Publication Secretary, Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement

My Encounter with Pope Francis: A Blessing That Transformed Me

On 20 September 2024, I experienced one of the greatest blessings of my life: being part of a Private Papal Audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, together with over 80 youth leaders of IMCS Pax Romana from around the world. This wasn’t just a meeting, it was a sacred encounter that left an unforgettable mark on my heart.

We entered Vatican City early in the morning, our hearts filled with excitement, anticipation, and gratitude. As we walked through the holy grounds, I felt a deep sense of awe, knowing that we were about to meet the leader of the Catholic Church, a man whose words and actions had shaped the world. We had a special line for the security check, entering a space reserved for few: the private residence of Pope Francis. After passing through security, we were led to the hall where the audience would take place. We waited there, a group of young leaders from different countries, languages, and cultures, but united by the same faith and mission. The room was filled with a quiet energy – everyone whispering prayers, preparing their hearts.

And then, he entered. Pope Francis walked in with a big, warm smile on his face, and in that instant, the atmosphere shifted. It wasn’t the smile of a distant authority; it was the smile of someone who made you feel seen, known, and loved, as if he had known each of us for a very long time. His presence was gentle, joyful, and profoundly humble.

He spoke to us not as a figure above us, but as a father, a friend, a fellow pilgrim. He told us how much he appreciated the work of Pax Romana IMCS, recognizing our efforts as youth striving for peace, justice, and solidarity. He reminded us that “you are not just the future of the Church; you are its present.” He called us to be bold, to go to the margins, to defend the dignity of every person, and to keep hope alive even in dark times.

When it was my turn to approach him, I carried in my hands the flag of my country. My nation was suffering deeply after the mass uprising of August 5th, and I couldn’t stand before the Pope without bringing my people’s struggles and prayers. As I handed him the flag, I asked him to pray for my country and its people. In that moment, Pope Francis looked at me with eyes that spoke a thousand words without saying a thing. His gaze carried compassion, understanding, solidarity, and hope. It was as if he was holding not just a flag, but the pain, wounds, and dreams of an entire nation. He blessed the flag, laying his hand gently on it, and through that blessing, I felt something deeper than words, a spiritual embrace that reached across borders, across suffering.

That encounter transformed me. It changed the way I see leadership, faith, and the mission of the Church. I realized that leadership is not about positions or titles, it’s about standing close to the suffering, carrying their hopes, and being a channel of God’s love and justice. Pope Francis embodied that leadership: a shepherd who didn’t stand above his flock, but walked alongside them, listening, loving, and lifting them up.

And now, as we mourn his passing, his smile, his words, his blessing remain alive in us. His departure is not an end, it is an invitation. His mission is now our mission. We, the young people of Pax Romana, must continue to be the builders of bridges, not walls. We must stand with the marginalized, the forgotten, and the oppressed. We must bring the Church closer to the streets, closer to the wounded places of our world. We must keep his dream alive: a Church that is humble, listening, courageous, and joyful.

He told us, “you are the present of the Church.” Now it’s up to us to live that present boldly. To defend peace when violence seems easier. To speak truth when silence is safer. To love when hatred is louder. We carry his blessing, not as a memory, but as a mission. We carry his words, not as a farewell, but as a call to action. We carry his spirit, not as a legacy to admire, but as a path to walk.

May we never tire of building the world he dreamed of: A world of justice, peace, solidarity, and hope. Thank you, Pope Francis, for showing us the way. Now, it’s our turn to walk it.“