The Catholic church has lost a radical, compassionate, and loving leader. At 88, Pope Francis, fondly called by Filipinos as “Lolo Kiko,” passed away due to a stroke and heart failure after a battle with double pneumonia.  

In this challenging time in the church’s history, take time to revisit the following shows where the Holy Father made an appearance. 

Stories of a Generation with Pope Francis   

In a rare opportunity, Pope Francis willingly participated in this 2021 documentary series that featured 18 compelling stories of people aged 70 and above from different parts of the world.  

Inspired by the Holy Father’s book Sharing the Wisdom of Time, this documentary was aimed at bridging connections between the younger and older generations. 

“I think that today, it is important for the future of the mankind that young people talk to old people,” the Pope said in the documentary series.  

Pope Francis showed a personality that the world rarely sees, sharing interesting facts about himself like his fascination with the Tango.

One of the thought-provoking statements he made was his take on love: “When I hear confessions from young married couples, I ask them one question: ‘Do you play with your kids?’ This is the key, the freedom of play. Love is free or it is not love.” 

Available on Netflix, the documentary used a conversational approach in highlighting the valuable lessons and experiences of the elders on topics like love, dreams, struggles, and work that the youth can learn and draw inspiration from.  

In an interview with National Catholic Reporter, Jesuit Priest Antonio Spadaro revealed that the Pope decided to participate in the documentary with the condition that he will not be center of it.  

READ: Pope Francis, beloved ‘Lolo Kiko’ to Filipinos, has passed away: Vatican

The Pope Answers

In 2023, Pope Francis addressed some of the pressing issues confronting the church and the youth as he took part in a Disney documentary that featured ten young individuals with varying backgrounds from the Generation Z.  

The Pontiff answered vital questions that spanned from the issue of abortion to gender-based issues like feminism, women’s role in the church, sexuality, and the big problem of migration and racism. 

One of the highlights of the documentary was when he asked if he was receiving compensation for his work to which he responded: “No, they don't pay me! And when I need money to buy shoes or something else, I go and ask. I don't have a salary, but that doesn't worry me, because I know they feed me for free."   

On the issue of sexuality, the pope gave an answer that amplified the world’s call for inclusivity.  

"Every person is a child of God, every person,” he said. “God does not reject anyone, God is Father. And I have no right to expel anyone from the Church. Not only that, my duty is always to welcome. The Church cannot close the door to anyone, to no one.” 

The Pope Answers was released through the Disney streaming platform Hulu.  

READ: Celebrities mourn the passing of Pope Francis

Pope Francis: The First with Norah O’Donnell 

Norah O’Donnell of CBS News had the golden opportunity to have an exclusive sit-down interview with Pope Francis at the Vatican in May 2024.  

During the 11th year of his papacy, the Pontiff confronted some of the world’s contemporary issues including wars, immigration, and climate change.  

Amid the waging wars between states that directly impacted children, Pope Francis made an appeal in the said interview.

“What I can do is pray, I pray a lot for peace,” he said. “And also to suggest, ‘please stop, negotiate.’ A bad deal is always better than an ugly defeat, is it not? Negotiate, negotiate. The white flag is for negotiating, not for surrendering but for negotiating. And wars are resolved through negotiating.” 

Consistent in his call for governments to “build bridges not walls,” Pope Francis asserted: “Migration is something that makes the country grow.” 

In the same interview, the Pontiff also extended a message to the climate change deniers.  

“How many young people today will not get to see so many things,” he said. “It is a lack of conscience to use a plastic bottle and throw it to the sea, this makes the sea unhealthy. We have to be conscientious about repurifying nature.”

When asked about the legacy he wants to be remembered for, Pope Francis gave an answer filled with humility.

 “I never really thought about it. The church is the legacy. The church not only through the pope but through you, through every Christian, through everyone,” he said.  

Pope Francis served his papacy for 12 years after he was elected Pope in March 2013.