Rotary Melbourne joins the global community in mourning the recent passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a spiritual leader whose compassion, humility and unwavering commitment to justice left a lasting impact on people of all faiths. His deep connection with Rotary stands as a powerful reminder of our shared mission to build a more peaceful, equitable world.
Pope Francis' association with Rotary stretches back prior to his papacy, when then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio accepted an honorary membership with the Rotary Club of Buenos Aires in 1999, reflecting his enduring belief in service above self.
A defining moment in his relationship with Rotary came on 30 April 2016, when nearly 9,000 Rotarians from around the globe gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for a special Jubilee Audience at the personal invitation of Pope Francis.
The Rotary Jubilee at the Vatican, 2016.
At the conclusion of the Audience, a delegation of Rotary members - led by then-Rotary International President K.R. (Ravi) Ravindran - had the privilege of meeting with Pope Francis. In their meeting, he passionately encouraged Rotary’s ongoing work to eradicate polio and praised the organisation’s efforts in global vaccination campaigns. Just months earlier, the Pope had personally administered a polio vaccine to a child during his visit to Mexico, underscoring his direct support of the cause.
Rotary International President 2015-16 Ravi Ravindran meets with Pope Francis.
“It is a tremendous honour to be part of this Jubilee Audience,” said Ravindran at the time. “Pope Francis has inspired men and women throughout the world – regardless of their faith – with his humble acts of kindness. His call to alleviate the root causes of extreme poverty and human suffering transcends religion, age, nationalism and politics. Rotary members from every religion, nation and creed share Pope Francis’ spirit of mercy and compassion, which inspires us to act boldly to address the most difficult challenges facing our world today.”
Past Rotary International President 2014-15 Gary Huang meets Pope Francis at the Rotary Jubilee.
Rotary International first female Rotary International President 2022-23 (and then Rotary International Vice President 2016-17) Jennifer Jones and her husband Nick Krayacich meet with Pope Francis.
Pope Francis follows a distinguished line of Popes who recognised and supported Rotary's humanitarian mission: Pope Paul VI addressed the 1979 Rotary International Convention in Rome, Pope John Paul II was honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow, and Pope Pius IV addressed Rotarians in Italy in 1970. Pope Francis’ legacy builds upon this shared history, reminding us that compassion and service are universal values.
Rotary Melbourne members also have their own connections to Pope Francis and the Catholic Church. See recent club member Manoel Felipe below when he received his own blessing from his holiness.
Rotary Melbourne honours the memory of Pope Francis - his life, his leadership, and his commitment to global fellowship. In his spirit, we recommit ourselves to the values we hold dear: service, peace, and compassion for all.
