LEXINGTON, Ky. — With a University of Kentucky basketball jersey signed by head coach Mark Pope or his routine of gifting Kentucky’s rarest of bourbons, often left right at his front door, Fr. Jim Sichko said he visited Pope Francis in Vatican City almost three months before he fell critically ill.
What You Need To Know
- Lexington Priest Fr. Jim Sichko is mourning the loss of Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88 years old
- Sichko visited Pope Francis in Vatican City almost three months before he fell critically ill, he said
- Francis appointed Sichko as a Missionary of Mercy in 2015
- Sichko said two lasting messages from Francis is faith can outweigh judgment and hope is the way forward
But in almost 10 years, the Diocese of Lexington priest got to know who Francis was beyond the public eye.
"An individual that had a great sense of humor," Sichko said. "An individual who spoke the truth at any moment."
Like many people across the world, Sichko is mourning Francis' death at 88 years old.
He said Francis led the Catholic Church for 12 years with the people in his mind and heart. He added he would admit he wasn’t perfect but wanted people to know there was a path toward faith for every walk of life.
Francis appointed Sichko as a Missionary of Mercy in 2015 to spread those values around the globe.
“Challenge the priests throughout the world to smell like their sheep; in other words, if you're going to be the shepherd of God's people, you can't be sitting in an office,” Sichko said. “You've got to get out and be among the people with the people, for the people.”
According to the Vatican News, Sichko was one of more than 1,200 Missionaries of Mercy appointed by Francis since the 2015 Jubilee of Mercy.
It's a title Sichko will continue to hold for a lifetime, plus the many memories, photos and conversations the two shared.
“Go throughout the world and you remind all people that God is with them, that God's mercy is always theirs and that God will never abandon his people,” Sichko said, as he held a former zucchetto worn by Francis years ago.
"I hope that people who normally wouldn't have had the opportunity to ever meet a pope or ever have the opportunity to be in the presence of what we call the 'Vicar of Christ,' they were able to because I was able to share with them those experiences that I had with Pope Francis."
Sichko said two lasting messages from Francis is faith can outweigh judgment and hope is the way forward.
