True greatness in the eyes of God is not found in power, wealth, or status. It is found in service to others. Jesus said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). This is the heart of Christian leadership — self-sacrifice for the good of others. It is a call to each of us to lay down our own ambitions and desires to serve our neighbors and build up the kingdom of God.

The world first met Pope Francis when white smoke curled into the Roman sky on March 13, 2013. “Habemus papam!” “We have a pope!” — the cry rang out.

But what startled the world wasn’t only the name he chose: Francis — a name that whispered simplicity, poverty, and Gospel joy. No, what truly stunned the world was what he did next. He stepped onto the famed loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, looked out over the vast crowd of pilgrims, and then, rather than immediately raising his hands in papal blessing, he paused. He looked upon the Church with deep tenderness and asked something no pope had ever asked before: “Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask you to pray to the Lord that He may bless me.” And then he gently added, “Let us make this prayer for me in silence.”

That moment revealed the soul of the man — not a figure of power or prestige but a servant filled with trembling humility. He understood that the mystery of God does not puff us up; it brings us low in reverence. And he bowed. At that moment, the world didn’t just see a pope. It saw a disciple.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A great man is always willing to be little.” This simple phrase reflects the very heart of Christian humility. Jesus, the Lord of all, became small for our sake. He came not to rule but to serve. Pope Francis followed in that same spirit, choosing the lowly path, not to impress but to inspire. He challenged each of us to let go of our personal glory and allow God to lead our lives.

Humility is not weakness. On the contrary, it is the strength that allows us to recognize the greatness of God and others. When we humble ourselves, we create space for grace to fill our lives. The Psalm encourages us: “Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will sustain you” (Ps 55:22).  When we entrust ourselves to God, He supports and lifts us up.

Another unforgettable moment came in 2014, during Lent. At the penitential celebration “24 Hours for the Lord” inside St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis was meant to lead the service, preach, and then take his place in the confessional. But what he did was both shocking and deeply moving: he walked past the confessional where he was meant to sit, and he knelt to confess his own sins to another priest. No announcement. No performance. No attention-seeking. Just a man, a shepherd, going home to the Father’s mercy.

That moment, too, captured the essence of Pope Francis. He knew that leading the Church is not about control but surrender, not about explaining everything but about trusting the One who holds everything together.

His frequent request “Please… pray for me” was more than a polite phrase. It was a heartfelt appeal from someone who knew that his strength came not from his position but from the prayers of God’s people and the grace of the Lord.

Pope Francis’s humility continues to challenge and inspire the Church. In a world that often mistakes dominance for greatness, his quiet strength reminds us that true greatness comes from service, simplicity, and surrender to God’s will. His papacy was not about creating a legacy for himself but about pointing all of us — gently and consistently — toward Jesus.

Let us follow his example. Let us bow low, serve freely, and love humbly. And as Pope Francis so often asked, let us not forget to pray for him.