Upon the announcement of Pope Francis's passing on April 21, Timothy P. Broglio, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, shared reflections on the Pope's impact and legacy.

"Pope Francis will long be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the Church and of society. He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all," Broglio stated. He highlighted Pope Francis's call for "a profound hope: one that is not an empty or naïve hope, but one grounded in the promise of Almighty God to be with us always."

Broglio recounted the Pope's unique background, noting his roots in the Piedmont region of Italy and his experience as a Jesuit and a leader in Buenos Aires. This combination, he suggested, equipped Pope Francis with a distinctive perspective for his universal Church ministry.

He also mentioned the Pope's recent support for American bishops in their "attempts to respond to the face of Christ in the migrant, poor, and unborn." The Pope's commitment to human dignity "from conception to natural death" was consistently articulated.

Broglio reflected on their last meeting at the Jubilee Mass for the Armed Forces, Police, and Security Personnel. Despite health challenges, the Pope saluted the bishops before departing for Santa Marta.