Thank you, Francis, for re-animate me… and inviting me to re-animate the economy
by Jesús Becerril González*
In May 2019, while browsing Facebook, I came across an invitation that would change my life. It was a letter from Pope Francis addressed to the youth of the world: he was calling us to “give a soul to the economy of tomorrow.” I never imagined that this message—read almost by chance—would breathe new life not only into my professional perspective, but into my entire life.
Moved by a deep sense of hope, I applied to be part of the first Economy of Francesco (EoF) gathering in Assisi. I received the news of my acceptance with great joy. However, soon after, the pandemic arrived, and with it, the suspension of the in-person event. That time also coincided with a diagnosis that shook all my plans: I was diagnosed with cancer. Amid medical tests and treatments, Francis’ letter began to take on a deeper meaning—it became a vocational calling. I realized that reviving the economy first requires reviving people. And I understood that his call began with reviving my own life story.
In November 2020, the event was held virtually, which allowed me to participate even in the midst of my healing process. It became a true light in the midst of uncertainty.
Though still recovering, I was deeply strengthened by the Pope’s words inviting us to draw inspiration from Saint Francis of Assisi and to let go of “bittersweet melancholy of those caught up only in themselves.”
Those words pierced through me: I felt called to look beyond my own limitations, to rediscover the meaning of “us,” and to build community amid the many crises we face—global, local, and personal. This global community embodied Pope Francis’ powerful phrase: No one is saved alone. The economy cannot be transformed by individual efforts alone, however valuable they may be. We need a “we.” The EoF gave me a community of sisters and friends, united by the same desire to offer our lives and talents in building a more just society, inspired by the Gospel.
Of all the blessings the EoF has given me, one stands out: being part of Pope Francis’ legacy. In his messages—especially during his visit to Assisi in 2022—he encouraged us not to fear the challenges of our time, not to give in to resignation or indifference in the face of humanity’s wounds. He urged us to be men and women of our time. His words and his coherence—especially his courage—revived me during my personal healing and inspired me to live with purpose, committing myself to transforming my surroundings from my own smallness and with the gifts God has given me. In this way, I strive to contribute to the common good, to socio-environmental justice, and to overcoming the deep inequalities in our Latin American and Caribbean territories. The EoF helped me see that my vocation as a researcher and university professor is also a service to the Kingdom.
Pope Francis’ Social Magisterium has been a constant prophetic voice for me. He taught us not to divide, polarize, or hate. His consistency and his actions—washing feet, embracing the sick, listening to the condemned, allowing himself to be taught by social movements and those on the margins—showed us that Christianity is not about moral superiority, but about loving detachment born from the deep knowledge that we are loved and shown mercy.
To those of us in the EoF, the Pope taught us to be men and women of reconciliation, artisans of peace. He called us to courageously denounce all forms of discrimination, exploitation, violence, exclusion, or injustice that harm human dignity and creation. But he went further: he invited us to bear witness with our very lives, to renounce individualism, and to create, together with those in vulnerable situations, spaces for dignified life and hopeful futures—recognizing one another as sisters and brothers.
Thank you, Francis, for your inclusive vision, for promoting an economy that contributes to the integral human development of all people and all nations. Thank you for inviting us to be a Church with open doors.
Only then can we work beyond what seemingly separates us, uniting our hearts, minds, and hands to care for what is common and always under threat: our home, our sister mother earth, peace, and our sense of belonging as one human family.
Your legacy is a true treasure. You leave us with the challenge and the joy of being a prophetic community—one that does not tire or fear facing the challenges of our time, that continues to ask questions and seek answers, to work and create spaces where dignity, justice, and the common good are the foundations of a society with the flavor of the Gospel. Those of us who are part of the EoF feel like heirs to a seed of the future. You are gone, but you have not left us. You walk with us in the memory of our decisions, in the challenge of being coherent with our actions, and in the joy of our hope. What remains is your joy, your courageous faith, your humility, and your three words of farewell: “Be witnesses, do not be afraid, do not grow tired of hoping.” And with that, we keep walking.
Thank you, Francis, for re-animate me and inviting us to re-animate the economy.
