Rep. Nancy Pelosi shakes hands with Pope Francis on Capitol Hill in September 2015.
Nikki Kahn/Pool/ AP
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Nikki Kahn/Pool/ AP
Catholics around the world are mourning the death of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at age 88. Among them is Speaker of the House Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who told NPR she met Pope Francis a handful of times.
In an interview with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly, Pelosi recounted a visit in which he laughed at her.
Pelosi was waiting for him in his office and when he opened the door, “tears just flowed down my eyes … I was just overwhelmed by seeing him.”
She was overcome with emotion, but met by his kindness.
“How he reacted is what really got me,” she told NPR. “He just laughed and laughed and laughed that I was so tearful upon seeing him.”
Pelosi praised Francis as “humble, courageous and confident.”
“He would always say, ‘Pray for me.’ And I’d be like, ‘Well wait a minute, your Holiness, you’re supposed to be praying for the rest of us.'”
Today, Pelosi said, “I’m praying to him …. He’s a saintly person. I’m praying to him.”
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Interview highlights
Mary Louise Kelly: I remember when you and I spoke last summer, I was interviewing you about your memoir, your book, and you talked about growing up Catholic and how today your faith remains very deep. So, just say a little bit more about that — what Pope Francis’ death means to you personally.
Nancy Pelosi: Well, his death means a great deal to me personally, but to many, many Catholics and people of faith throughout the world. So that’s why it’s such a day of sadness. I was at his installation on the Feast of Saint Joseph. Then I’ve had four opportunities to visit with him and speak with him, sometimes with my children, sometimes officially and always, always, always inspired by him. He would always say, “Pray for me.” And I’d be like, “Well, wait a minute, your Holiness, you’re supposed to be praying for the rest of us.” So this sign of his humility: “Pray for me.” And then his confidence and his courage to do all the wonderful things that he did was quite remarkable.
Kelly: And it sounds like you’re praying for him today.
Pelosi: I’m praying to him today. I’m praying to him today.
