Dear Editor,
I am writing this correspondence addressed to the Editor of The Phillipian in response to the Eighth Page Article JD Vance’s “pretty crazy” last conversation with The Pope, dated 25 April 2025, of The Phillipian Vol. CXLVIII, No. 10. Please consider this my complaint about the article’s contents.
His Holiness Pope Francis spent his entire life challenging us to embrace the dignity of every human being. He impassionately advocated for economic justice, environmental stewardship, societal equity, and interfaith dialogue. His words, actions, and life resonated far beyond the walls of Vatican City and extended even outside the Catholic Church.
As a Episcopalian, I found the work of His Holiness and was moved by his compassion, humanity, and empathy. Although I am not a member of the Catholic faith, I stand in unity with the billions who turned to him as a moral and ethical compass. I grieve his passing and remember his sacrosanct role in our turbulent world.
Satire certainly has a valid place in the free press, but the timing of this article is simply jarring. When even members of our campus community mourn his death, The Phillipian has failed to reach out with empathy and has denied our rights to a respectful mourning period, something that is customary to many major publications. To simply skip straight to parody is nothing more than dismissive and disrespectful of one’s life.
Phillips Academy is a community where diverse religions and spiritual faiths thrive, and all faiths deserve to be respected. This principle surely extends to their respective spiritual leaders. It is not in the spirit of “non sibi” or “Youth From Every Quarter” to mock his life, work, or even his final moments.
This article also sets a dangerous precedent on our campus, sending a harmful message that implies that the fundamental religious identities of students and faculty can be ignored and mocked for comedic and shock value.’
Sometimes, it is true that humor can heal, but not when the target is those who have just departed. That sort of humor can only exacerbate the sadness and wrath of emotions that mourners feel and feel nothing more than offensive and bigoted.
I urge the Editors of The Phillipian to apologize to the members of our community who have felt disgraced and offended by the article. In a time of disunity and division in this world, country, and campus, the role of the media should not be to divide us further.
I remain hopeful that The Phillipian’s response to this issue would demonstrate the same integrity and compassion His Holiness embodied in every moment of his life.
I thank you for your attention.
Signed,
Jaewon Choi ’28
