'Pope Francis leaves a legacy in all of us': a message from First Nations leader
On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis.
The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025.
And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us".
Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond.
She shared their story.
The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region.
Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments.
"His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said.
This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay.
He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection.
The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family.
She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her.
"It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said.
Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her.
"[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said.
"I will cherish that forever."
The Pope died a few hours later.
When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book.
"It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said.
Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog.
She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
"It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said.
Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised.
"I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said.
"Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes."
Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes.
"He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said.
"Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised."
Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered.
However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9].
She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff.
She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV.
On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis.
The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025.
And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us".
Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond.
She shared their story.
The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region.
Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments.
"His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said.
This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay.
He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection.
The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family.
She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her.
"It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said.
Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her.
"[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said.
"I will cherish that forever."
The Pope died a few hours later.
When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book.
"It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said.
Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog.
She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
"It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said.
Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised.
"I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said.
"Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes."
Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes.
"He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said.
"Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised."
Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered.
However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9].
She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff.
She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV.
On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis.
The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025.
And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us".
Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond.
She shared their story.
The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region.
Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments.
"His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said.
This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay.
He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection.
The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family.
She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her.
"It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said.
Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her.
"[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said.
"I will cherish that forever."
The Pope died a few hours later.
When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book.
"It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said.
Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog.
She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
"It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said.
Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised.
"I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said.
"Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes."
Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes.
"He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said.
"Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised."
Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered.
However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9].
She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff.
She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV.
On the day a new Pope was selected to lead the Catholic church, Theresa Ardler has remembered the legacy left by her close friend, Pope Francis.
The Wreck Bay resident and First Nations leader was one of the last people to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican before his death on April 21, 2025.
And she said he "leaves a legacy in all of us".
Their final meeting marked the end of a unique and deeply personal journey that began in 2022 and blossomed into a lasting spiritual bond.
She shared their story.
The founder of Gweagal Cultural Connections and a Vatican diplomat first met Pope Francis in May 2022 when she was invited to the Vatican to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples from the Oceania region.
Ms Ardler was touched by the Pope's advocacy for the poor and struggling areas in the world, not only through the people but also their environments.
"His encyclical was to reach out and understand the stories of the people from the peripheries," she said.
This message resonated deeply with her as she shared with him the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on her community in Wreck Bay.
He became invested in her journey, and they formed a strong relationship and connection.
The two stayed in touch over the years, and Ms Ardler not only grew close to Pope Francis, but came to see him as family.
She received a phone call from the Vatican on April 21, 2025, which happened to be her birthday, saying Pope Francis wanted to see her.
"It was just me and his dog Esteban, and he was in his wheelchair, he had oxygen because he couldn't speak much," she said.
Ms Ardler received a special birthday present from Pope Francis before she left - a set of rosary beads, the third set he had gifted her.
"[He said the rosary had] a special heart and so I opened it and it was beautiful and he blessed it for me," she said.
"I will cherish that forever."
The Pope died a few hours later.
When the Pope's death was announced Ms Ardler was staying within walking distance of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and was among the first to sign the condolence book.
"It was just very sombre in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major," she said.
Though she did not attend the funeral, she was present at the Pope's burial, sitting beside his nephew and beloved dog.
She later celebrated mass with Swiss Guards, Vatican officials, and cardinals, where she met Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
"It was very beautiful and something I'll never forget in my lifetime," she said.
Ms Ardler said she would always carry with her the message of Pope Francis' call to care for the poor and the marginalised.
"I believe I really connect with that because I'm an Indigenous Australian and we are marginalised in this country as well," she said.
"Our way of living and doing is very simple, but at the same time, we are struggling with climate change as it unfolds before our eyes."
Ms Ardler admired the Pope's humility, which she said was reflected in the simplest of choices, like his refusal to wear the traditional red papal shoes.
"He was buried with his black shoes that he borrowed from a friend in Argentina, Buenos Aires," she said.
"Pope Francis decided to only wear black shoes because he represented the poor of society and the marginalised."
Ms Ardler left Rome with a broken heart and was deeply shattered.
However, she said felt joy in hearing the good news that Pope Leo XIV was selected as Pope this morning [May 9].
She said the recently ordained Pope had similar beliefs surrounding the poor and could continue the work the late Pope Francis started during his pontiff.
She looks forward to visiting the Vatican in a few months to officially welcome Pope Leo XIV.
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