I was invited to participate in a conference in Rome in December 2016. The subject of this gathering was morality in leadership and with the invitation came the possibility of catching a glimpse of Pope Francis. To our delight and surprise, our group of 100 participants who were leaders and our spouses, was led into a smaller chapel within the Vatican after a private tour of the Sistine Chapel. When Eddie and I entered the space all the seats had been filled as if it were Easter Sunday with standing room only in the back. I would have been just fine with that because being in the same room was such an unexpected honor. Then suddenly, from behind us walked in our new friends (you know who you are) who we were seated with at dinner the previous night and they ask us to follow them up to the front row which was reserved. As we waited for our “audience” with the Pope, the room filled with the excitement and anticipation of the group and the warmth of our hosts. When Pope Francis entered the room, we all stood and all invited to line up to meet him. One by one, he greeted each of us with his humble bow, taking our hands into his. I will never forget the feeling of being in his presence. As the world says farewell to a kind and humble leader, I pray that we continue to carry his grace and compassion because that’s what the world needs most right now.