A Saintly Bond: The Shared Legacy of Pope Francis and St. Joseph Vaz

April 25, 2025

The passing of Pope Francis has led to an outpouring of tributes from around the world, honouring his life and spiritual legacy. Global leaders have praised his saintly character and his unwavering commitment to economic justice, environmental responsibility, and compassion for the marginalized.

However, for Filomena Saraswati Giese and her team at the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute in Berkeley, California, the passing of the late pontiff has prompted a unique reflection. They have observed several intriguing connections between the late pope and a 17th-century missionary saint from East Asia—St. Joseph Vaz.

A Date Common To Both

According to Filomena, one of the most striking connections between Pope Francis and St. Joseph Vaz lies in a poignant coincidence: Pope Francis passed away on April 21 — the very birthdate of St. Joseph Vaz. To her and many others, this is no mere coincidence but a celestial echo of their spiritual kinship — a modern-day pontiff and a fearless missionary, united across centuries by their deep compassion for the marginalised and their vision of a Church rooted in love, humility, and service.

Canonization

Interestingly, it was Pope Francis who canonised Joseph Vaz during his 2015 visit to Sri Lanka, making him the first saint from Goa, Kanara (present-day Karnataka), and Sri Lanka.

Born in 1651 in Goa, Vaz's mission brought him to Kanara to rebuild churches destroyed by Dutch anti-Catholic forces. In 1687, he secretly entered Dutch-occupied Sri Lanka, disguised as a labourer, to minister to persecuted Catholics. Eventually, he found refuge in the Buddhist kingdom of Kandy, where the local king recognised him as a man of peace and permitted him to serve freely.

Their Shared Concern For Refugees

Another important link between Pope Francis and St. Joseph Vaz is their shared pastoral love for refugees and the marginalised. Pope Francis consistently emphasised the importance of helping and supporting immigrants and refugees, even during the final days of his life.

Similarly, St. Joseph Vaz embodied this compassionate spirit. During the smallpox epidemic that broke out in Kandy, Sri Lanka, in 1697, he dedicated 23 years to caring for the sick and suffering—many of whom had been abandoned and cast out into forests and remote areas far from the city. St. Joseph Vaz courageously ventured into these forsaken places, built shelters for the afflicted, and cared for them with mercy, humility, and unwavering faith.

Synodality

The connection between Pope Francis and St. Joseph Vaz is also deeply rooted in the spirit of synodality. Pope Francis envisioned a Church that listens, includes, and values the voices of all its members, especially the laity. Centuries earlier, St. Joseph Vaz embodied this very ethos. During the Dutch occupation of Sri Lanka, when the Church over there was cut off from Rome, he trained the Sri Lankan Catholic laity to lead and sustain the underground Church and managed to sustain it during the 146 years of Dutch persecution.

For Filomena and her team at the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute in Berkeley, the shared similarities between Pope Francis and St. Joseph Vaz serve as a source of inspiration. They are a reminder of the call to all Catholics around the world to serve the poor, welcome the stranger, and build a Church that walks together in faith.

By Filomena Saraswati Giese,

Founder and President,

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, Berkeley, California

The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute was founded in 1980 in Berkeley, California, with the mission of promoting the canonisation of then Venerable Father Joseph Vaz. Filomena, along with her sister Maria and other members at the Institute worked tirelessly for several years toward this cause. Their unwavering efforts resulted in the canonisation of Saint Joseph Vaz in 2015.

Email: josephnaik.vaz@gmail.com

Website: www.josephnaikvaz.org

Image Credit: www.anastpaul.com