With the passing of Pope Francis, ARCORES and the entire Augustinian Recollect family bid farewell to a transformative figure whose vision has deeply inspired our solidarity mission. The Indelible Mark of Pope Francis: The Legacy of the First Latin American Pontiff and His Harmony with ARCORES
As the first Latin American pope, Francis embodied values that ARCORES has championed since its foundation: the preferential option for the poor, care for our Common Home, and the building of a more just and fraternal society.
His election in 2013 represented a historic shift for the Church and a validation of the path that organizations like ours had been following in Latin America.
Francis’s vision of a “Church that goes forth” has been the spiritual framework guiding our development and solidarity projects across four continents.
Inspiration for Our Solidarity Work
Francis’s concern for the marginalized has been a beacon for ARCORES. His encyclicals “Laudato Si'” and “Fratelli Tutti” have grounded our commitment to integral ecology and universal fraternity, principles we apply in each of our educational, healthcare, and community development projects.
When the Pope denounced the “globalization of indifference,” ARCORES responded with concrete solidarity initiatives. His call to move beyond the “throwaway culture” has inspired our programs of solidarity economy and sustainable development in vulnerable communities.
Francis’s leadership style, approachable and stripped of formalities, has been a model for our organization. His insistence on a Church that “smells like sheep” has encouraged us to maintain direct contact with the communities we serve, listening to their real needs.
At ARCORES, we have embraced his call to be “artisans of peace” and “bridge builders,” especially in contexts of conflict and polarization where we carry out our humanitarian work.
A Legacy We Will Continue
For ARCORES, Francis’s pontificate has meant a renewed impulse to our mission. His prophetic voice against inequalities and his defense of human rights have legitimized our work for social justice in the most challenging contexts.
As we bid farewell to the first Latin American pope, ARCORES renews its commitment to continue his legacy, working for a world where the dignity of each person is respected and where solidarity guides relationships between individuals and peoples.
We will continue walking the path that Francis showed us: that of concrete, effective, and transformative solidarity, which goes beyond words and translates into actions that change lives and entire communities.
More info: https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html
