With deep gratitude and emotion, the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers gives thanks to God for the life and witness of Pope Francis. Jorge Mario Bergoglio departed to the Father’s House on April 21, 2025, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Church and on our hearts.

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis taught us that the Gospel is lived through concrete gestures of love, closeness, and justice. He spoke from the margins, from the pain of the poorest, of exploited women, of migrants, and of those who suffer the horror of human trafficking. And he invited us to go there—where the world hurts—to bring comfort and hope.

As Sisters Adorers, we feel that his message deeply touched the heart of our mission. His insistence on a “Church that goes forth,” a merciful and prophetic Church, has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement in our ministry of accompanying women in situations of vulnerability, prostitution, trafficking, and other forms of violence.

One of the gestures we are most grateful for is the creation of the Santa Marta Group in 2014—an international initiative launched by Pope Francis to combat human trafficking. Its goal is to coordinate the resources of the Catholic Church with police forces and civil society to prevent exploitation and slavery, and to provide pastoral care and reintegration support to survivors in their communities.

Through this initiative, bishops’ offices, religious congregations, law enforcement, and civil organizations have been able to collaborate to fight against this painful reality. It has been an honor for us to be part of the Santa Marta Group from the beginning, and it continues to be so today, as a concrete expression of our commitment to the freedom and dignity of every woman.

Thank you, Holy Father, for reminding us that God never tires of loving, welcoming, and forgiving. For your tenderness toward those who suffer, for your closeness to the least, for your strength in the face of injustice, for your Gospel-centered, simple, and courageous faith. Thank you for your smile, your prayerful silences, and your love for the Church and for Jesus in the Eucharist.

The entire Adorer Family prays for you with the certainty that you continue to accompany us. May your legacy continue to bear fruit in a Church that is ever more human, more evangelical, and more in the service of others.