Though he wasn't standing centre stage in front of TED's signature red blocks letters, but rather seated at a desk at the Vatican, his speech had all the hallmarks of a TED Talk. His began with a personal narrative and wove in big ideas around hope, inclusion and starting a "revolution of tenderness".
He shared that he often wonders "why them and not me?" when he travels the world meeting with the poor and the sick - society's "discarded people". That question drives his belief that it is the responsibility of the fortunate to take care of those who are less so.
"First and foremost, I would love it if this meeting could help to remind us that we all need each other, none of us is an island, an autonomous and independent "I," separated from the other, and we can only build the future by standing together, including everyone," the Pope said.
"People's paths are riddled with suffering, as everything is centered around money, and things, instead of people. And often there is this habit, by people who call themselves "respectable," of not taking care of the others, thus leaving behind thousands of human beings, or entire populations, on the side of the road."
Pope Francis has gained fans even among the nonreligious for speaking out on issues like poverty, immigration and the environment. According to a Pew Research Centre poll, more than 70 per cent of people without a religious affiliation view him favourably. He's also known for his media savvy: he has 10 million followers on Twitter alone, and regularly records videos for specific audiences. But the TED world, with its heavy focus on science and technology, is an interesting choice and signals his willingness to spread his message far and wide.
Bruno Giussani, TED's international curator who organised the Pope's talk, said it took more than a year of asking and several trips to Rome to make it come to fruition.
"In this complicated and often confusing world, Pope Francis has become possibly the only moral voice capable of reaching people across boundaries and providing clarity and a compelling message of hope," Giussani said.
The Pope's TED talk dovetailed with another religious leader who spoke here. Yesterday evening. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks suggested substituting the word "self" with the word "other." "Instead of self-help, other-help. Instead of self-esteem, other-esteem," he said. "We can face any future without fear so long as we know that we won't face it alone."