8Approachthe ground and his heart in heaven.” That’s exactly who he was. Whether meeting with a presidential aide or a person from a slum, he treated everyone as equals — as fellow human beings. During seminary, we spent weekends serving in the slums. When I once asked him, “What can we possibly learn from the people living here?” he handed me Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and said, “You may see them merely as sinners, but they are the ones closest to God.” He taught me that understanding God isn’t simply an intellectual exercise; we must begin by understanding those who endure hardship in their lives. I believe he left us with two lasting lessons: first, that it is possible to live a just life — to live as a good person, and second, that the doors of the Church are open to all. He often said, “Anyone who helps those in need or wants to do good is our ally. It doesn’t mat-ter whether they’re Catholic or not.” People tend to build walls out of fear, but Pope Francis fearlessly reached out to those outside the Church. In Argentina, I witnessed him conversing peacefully with a crowd of protestors at an anti-government rally. Later, when I was studying at the Vatican, I saw him approach young troublemak-ers loitering on the streets, speaking to them without hesitation.The world today is filled with various forms of fear, but trusting others and engaging in dialogue without fear is what truly mat-ters. That’s what Pope Francis taught us — and I believe it’s what the world needs most right now. He had a profound love for those in need and for people in vulnerable positions in society. I believe the ideal vision for Sophia University is to center its education around such people. If all departments and faculties embrace this spirit in teaching and research, Sophia will become an institution even more true to its motto of working “For Others, With Oth-ers.” I believe that’s the kind of world — and university — Pope Francis hoped for.To me, Pope Francis was like a father. Determined not to waste my life, I joined the Society of Jesuits after graduating high school, and that’s when I first met him. At the time, he was re-sponsible for mentoring the young men in the order who aspired to become Catholic priests. After leaving my home to enter an entirely new world, I felt deeply supported and cared for by Pope Francis. He was someone I have always admired and sought to emulate. He prayed sincerely, studied passionately, and tirelessly worked for the poor and marginalized. He epitomized what a Je-suit priest should be.Pope Francis was once described as someone “with his feet on SOPHIA MAGAZINE Vol. 20Rev. Juan CarlosHaidar, S.J.Professor, Faculty of TheologyRev. Juan Carlos Haidar, S.J., a professor in the Faculty of Theology, mentored by the late Pope Francis at the Jesuit seminary in his native Argentina. Professor Haidar, who served as a bridge between the university and the late Pope, reflected on the Pope’s unassuming nature, which re-mained unchanged for over the years.LIVING AS A “GOOD PERSON” IS POSSIBLE:A FATHER-FIGURE WHOSE LIFE PROVED THIS
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