It is with great sadness that we learned the news this Easter Monday morning about the death of Pope Francis.

Over the past three years, we, as representatives of Central Texas Interfaith (CTI) and sister organizations of the Industrial Areas Foundation, were privileged to meet him three times in his Santa Marta residence at the Vatican, each an encounter of 90 minutes or more. CTI leader Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church (in photo greeting Pope Francis) was part of the delegation that met with Pope Francis in 2023.

Said Reverend Minerva Camarena Skeith: 

“Meeting with Pope Francis was an experience that I will never forget.  What impressed me the most is how well he understood the work we do around the development of leaders and creating a culture of solidarity."

Central Texas Interfaith spring leadership development training continued last week Leaders at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

We are continuing with the theme of strengthening our institutions.