With the recent attacks on Christopher Columbus and Saint Junípero Serra, there is a war on Catholic missionary work in general. Many who hate Christianity see it as the greatest of evil for those to have spread the message of Christ throughout the world. As a result, those opponents have lied about their actions, attributing some of the most evil acts without proof to demean the Christian faith that they spread.

As statues are coming under attack, a statute to Saint Serra proudly stands at the Basilica, reminding all who visit of his pious dedication to the Lord.

On September 23, 2015 Pope Francis came to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Catholic University of America for the Canonization of Blessed Junípero Serra. I served as an usher for the bishop and archbishop section, which was just before the altar.

It was a special occasion, and I have a strong connection to Saint Serra. I wrote the following article as a result of my experience:

Seven years ago, I began a journey that brought me into contact with a Pope and led to my start as a religion columnist for the Carroll County Times. That Pope was Benedict XVI, and he arrived at Catholic University of America, just as I was beginning my academic career there, to give an important speech on the state of Catholic education. On Wednesday, I returned full circle with my second papal visit just as my time at the university begins to wind down.

Pope Francis arrived on campus for the Canonization Mass of Blessed Junípero Serra, and, like the Franciscan friar Serra, Francis came to convert the peoples of America back to the ways of Christ. Saint Serra was a Spanish priest who was a trained philosopher and prominent academic, but he needed something more to follow the path of his calling. Abandoning prestige in Europe, Serra set sail to America.

His trip took him first through Mexico, where he suffered a leg injury and became ill. Although he was constantly pained, he set forth from Mexico City into the surrounding territories to bring the message of Christ to the native people.

After many years, Serra arrived in California to spread a message of repentance and purity through the love of Christ. He founded many missions along the way, and he took care of the spiritual and physical needs of the native communities. He sought to protect the people from corrupt and abusive governmental officials, and he promoted the care of all regardless of their status. Although his leg injury made it difficult for him to travel, he devoted his life to visiting missions throughout California and meeting with the newly converted.

Serra’s motto in life was “siempre adelante, nunca atras” (always forward, never backwards), and Pope Francis fully embraced these words during the canonization ceremony. For Christians, we need to focus on the future and how we can change the world by bringing it closer to Christ. Francis warns that we should “not settle for things that keep us comfortable” because those goods or habits keep us from Christ’s “invitation to rejoice.”

We are called, as Francis said, to “Go out and tell the good news to everyone.” He reminded us that spreading the Gospel is our essential duty, and Jesus commanded all of his followers to go forth. We must “proclaim by anointing and anoint by proclaiming” and to “Go out to people of every nation.” We must proclaim “that error, deceitful illusions and falsehoods do not have the last word in a person’s life.”

Francis, like Serra, came to America to bring us back to the ways of God. The Pope’s message was not political. Instead, it focused on our duty to spread love in all ways to all people. As with Benedict before him, Francis came to draw us back to Christ in all things.

The visitation of a Pope is an incredible experience, and it is unfortunately not one that everyone can enjoy. I am blessed to have received this opportunity twice, and I will continue to share the Gospel of Christ with you in appreciation.

This article is part of a series on Catholic teaching. A version of this article was originally published on September 26, 2015 in the Carroll County Times.