As the world welcomes Pope Leo XIV, I find myself reflecting on the unforgettable moments I shared with his beloved predecessor, Pope Francis. As a humble believer, I had the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of meeting Pope Francis twice in South Korea, and once again in the Vatican three years later.

In 2014, I was working as an English instructor in my hometown of Deajeon, South Korea, after finishing post-secondary education in Canada. During that time, I began volunteering for the 6th Asian Youth Day, an international catholic event hosted in the city. I was thrilled to learn that Pope Francis would participate in person.

As a member of the planning committee, I became acquainted His Eminence Lazarus You Heung-sik (photographed below, seated right beside Pope Francis), who was then the bishop of Daejeon. He shared with us that he had sent an invitation letter to Pope Francis, but never expected the Holy Father to accept. After all, popes rarely attend regional events like Asian Youth Day. But Pope Francis said yes, as he always welcomed opportunities to meet with young people.

Months of preparation led to a magical gathering at Haemi International Sanctuary, where Catholic youth from across Asia finally met him. While reading from a prepared speech in English, Pope Francis gently set the script aside and began to speak from the heart. He offered a word of support to a young person from a Southeast Asian country where there has been no history of martyrdom, and encouraged another youth from Daejeon who was about to walk into an unbeaten career path. I could sense his genuine desire to connect with young people, as he spends most his time surrounded by elderly cardinals and Vatican officials.

I returned to Canada soon after the event. While living a mundane life in a suburban home, I was overcome with an urge to travel, to finally visit my dream destination: Italy. I planned a trip to Rome, Florence and Venice, and secured a ticket to one of Pope Francis’ general audiences in St. Peter’s Square.

It was a bright Wednesday morning in March 2017 when I saw him again. Pope Francis appeared just as warm and spirited as I remembered. The audience included readings and teachings in Italian, and I received an English translation in a flyer. I watched as several groups met with him privately, seated at the front. I remained the Square until the pope offered his final blessing and disappeared from view.

Since his passing on April 21, 2025, right after Easter Sunday, I thought about how he once hoped to retire when he was in his mid-70s. While volunteering at Asian Youth Day, I learned he had planned to step down as a cardinal before he was called into the Vatican to elect the successor to Pope Benedict XVI. But those plans changed when the 2013 Conclave called him to the papacy. He humbly accepted the call to serve until his last breath. And he did.

I can only imagine the weight Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV, felt when he was chosen to lead. The papacy is a sacred but enormous burden that ends only with death. Having worked closely with Pope Francis, Leo XIV surely understands that gravity. I pray that God grants him all help he needs to carry out his mission with joy and gratitude in these challenging times.