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From St Peter’s Square: A Final Tribute to Pope Francis
Reflection written by Kate Wilkinson, CEO of Million Minutes
Today, as I sit in St Peter’s Square, surrounded by people from every corner of the world and to my delight a huge amount of young people, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary life and pontificate of Pope Francis. The weight of this moment is hard to put into words.
We have lost a pastor, a teacher and for us at Million Minutes: a guiding light. The atmosphere here is quite solemn, but there is a huge feeling of gratitude. That gratitude was shown so beautifully to me in the many rounds of applause that echoed around St Peter’s square as the Pope’s mortal remains were processed into the square at the beginning of the funeral mass and at the end as he made his final journey to his resting place. The crowds of young people, originally here for the Jubilee of Teenagers sum up for me the incredible legacy of Pope Francis. 200,000 of them are here, with flags and banners thanking Pope Francis for all he has done for them and the Church. Speaking to some of them, they see Pope Francis as someone who created space for them in the Church, a place where they could belong and be themselves. Many speak of how he has inspired them to strive to make the world a better place and stand up for the rights of others and against injustice. Many speak of his witness and the love that he showed to others, particularly the poor and the marginalized. I can’t help but feel that it is absolute providence that the Pope’s death and funeral coincided with this Jubilee of Teenagers, it showed the true reach of his pontificate and example. The crowd gathered for this funeral Mass shows the diversity of the Church and the diversity of all those deeply affected by his life and example. The presence of the young people in St Peter’s square this morning brought a hopeful atmosphere; although a sad and solemn occasion, the young people wanted to celebrate the life of this wonderful man, and their witness to the resurrection hope and joy was felt by everyone gathered.
From the moment Pope Francis stepped onto the balcony in 2013, he made it clear that his mission would be one of simplicity, humility and radical closeness to people, especially the young, the poor and the excluded. He didn’t just talk about young people; he listened to them. He made space for them. He believed in them. For all of us who work with young people, that belief is something more than comforting, it was a challenge to do better, a call to action. His words in Christus Vivit still echo in my mind today. He reminded the Church, and the world, that young people are not ‘the future’, they are the present. They have dreams, voices and ideas that are needed here and now, and our job is to walk beside them. That belief has shaped the work of Million Minutes in many ways. It gave us permission to think bigger about what young people could do, and it reminded us that the Church should always be a place where they are seen, heard and celebrated.
Pope Francis spoke often of accompaniment, about walking with people on the adventure of their life. That’s what we strive to do in every conversation, every project and every partnership. His example of leadership, a leadership rooted in mercy, compassion and deep listening, set a standard we will continue to aspire to.
Today, as I sit here after his funeral, I know we haven’t just lost a pope. We’ve lost a friend to the young, a voice of the voiceless, and a leader who truly believed the Church could be better, braver and more loving if we let young people help to shape its future. Pope Francis’s final gift to us is the ongoing challenge to build that kind of world. His legacy lives on every time a young person is given space to lead, every time their voices are heard and every time the Church opens its doors wider than before.
On behalf of everyone at Million Minutes and the many young people whose lives have been touched by his words and witness, thank you Pope Francis. You walked with us. You believed in us, and we will carry your vision forward.
May you rest in peace, good and faithful servant.
Volunteering with Milllion Minutes - Katerina's Story
Volunteering with Million Minutes has been an incredibly inspiring journey and I feel truly privileged to have experienced it. From the very first day, I was welcomed into a passionate and dedicated team, where I felt safe and valued despite stepping into an environment I knew little about, especially as am not a Catholic. The warmth, kindness, and support I received made it easy for me to grow both personally and professionally.
Joining Million Minutes came at a perfect time for me. After raising my family and completing my studies, I was eager to gain new skills and “fill the gap” in my CV. I was offered the opportunity – along with the freedom to explore creative ideas without fear of failure. Rather than feeling pressure to get everything right, I was empowered to experiment, innovate, and learn from experience. This trust allowed me to develop confidence, resilience, and a deeper understanding of effective communication.
I found myself immersed in a completely new world – one that combined the Catholic community's values with powerful social action. To understand this environment, I engaged deeply with the charity's mission, learning about its work, partnering organisations, and its various audiences. I delved into critical social issues such as racial justice, child poverty; I summarised important reports such as ‘The Cross of the Moment’ from the Boundary Breaking Project, and the final report of the Synod on Synodality, so we could accurately align our communication efforts with the charity's mission. Although the content was complex, each insight gained brought me closer to understanding the meaningful impact we could create and that by listening to diverse experiences and learning from them we could nurture healthier, more inclusive communities.
One of the most enriching aspects of my journey has been meeting inspiring women who are committed to driving positive change in society by creating safe spaces for young people, ensuring their voices are heard, valued and included. Working with Million Minutes has also reminded me that we all have unique gifts to share and important roles to play. Each step we take - no matter how small - can create ripples of meaningful change. By fostering trust, support, and respect, we can build stronger communities for the common good.
A particularly memorable experience was the work on our SiLent campaign, which invited people to spend time in silence, reflecting on the community's needs and how they could help addressing those needs. This year, we introduced an additional element- "Act Loud" - an inspiring call to turn those reflections into purposeful action. Inspired by this powerful message, I reached out to my local Catholic school and offered to help organise a litter-picking campaign in the area around the school. The event is scheduled for May, after Lent, once the school confirms the date with a partnering organisation. This act felt like a meaningful way to support the school community but also to set an example for my child, demonstrating the power of collective effort and the importance of caring for our environment.
Looking ahead, I intend to continue my involvement with the school community to ensure this positive change endures, keeping the area clean and safe for children.
If you're looking for an opportunity to make a difference, I encourage you to volunteer with Million Minutes. Whether you're seeking new experiences, hoping to give back to your community, or simply want to connect with inspiring people, you'll find a warm and welcoming environment where your contributions are valued. By stepping forward, you can play a vital role in creating lasting change - one small act at a time.
If you want to get involved with volunteering at Million Minutes, contact us here.
Welcome to Kate - Our Incoming CEO
Kate joins us as CEO with over a decade of experience in Catholic education and Catholic youth ministry; she has worked to inspire action, nurture spirituality and create opportunities for meaningful change. Kate is a former National President of the Young Christian Workers, has been involved in work nationally linked with the Universal Synod on Synodality as well as the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s 2020 synod and has worked as a school and college chaplain. She holds a BA in Theology from Heythrop College, University of London, and is currently completing an MA in Catholic Theology at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University. Kate is also the current Provincial Coordinator for the Salesian Cooperators in Great Britain.
Originally from Manchester, Kate now lives in Blackburn and is excited to bring her passion for empowering young people and promoting Catholic Social Teaching to Million Minutes.