Pope Francis’ death, though not unexpected, as his health was visibly fragile since his hospitalisation in February 2025, has brought on a deep feeling of sadness in not only Roman Catholics but in all people of goodwill around the world.
Pope Francis exuded warmth, humility, sincerity, and deep concern for all people, especially those on the margins. He took the name of Francis, as his papacy was modeled on St Francis of Assisi whose love for the poor and nature inspired him to do the same during his pontificate. It was precisely this aspect of Pope Francis that endeared him to people across the world, beyond the Catholic Church.
His voice which was one of clarity in our increasingly fractured world will be sorely missed especially during these troubled times of economic uncertainty and raging conflicts. In his Easter Sunday message to the world he appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine. The suffering of these people tragically affected by these conflicts became his pain. He visited Sudan to personally talk peace to the warring leaders.
He felt the pain of the poor, migrants and refugees who risked their lives and everything they had to make the dangerous journeys to Europe or the US for a better life. He felt the pain of the LGBT+ persons whose identity did not fit into the theological framework of the Catholic Church. He felt the pain of the divorced and remarried, who were prohibited from accessing Holy Communion, a sacrament that unites a person to their Catholic community, and welcomed them back to the table of Communion because he felt that mercy and not judgment was his duty as shepherd of his people. He created a blessing for LGBT+ partnerships, to allow them the opportunity to enjoy their partnership which is a very human need.
He was a true pastor, who believed in accompanying people on their journey of faith without being judgmental, or moralistic. Pope Francis was the first Pope to call the Bishops from all countries of the world to the Vatican in 2018 to press them to commit to deal with the sex abuse issue that had overcome the Church across the world. He changed Canon Law (the law that governs the Catholic Church), to facilitate the addressing of complaints of sex abuse by victims.
He recognised that women needed to play a greater role in the Church and created positions within the Vatican to place women in higher positions of governance. Women and laymen were invited for the first time to participate in a Synod of Bishops, and even participate in the process of voting. A Synod promulgated to include all the baptized to participate in the mission of the Church. Todos, todos, todos (everyone, everyone, everyone) was his mantra as he believed in inclusion.
He exhorted all his pastors to engage closely with their people and pointed out that a shepherd should have the smell of their sheep. He lived what he taught, so he went to the prisons and washed the feet of the prisoners - people from different faiths, men and women (an act performed by Jesus to teach his followers to serve one another).
The Church will pray sincerely as the cardinals gather soon in a conclave (gathering of Cardinals to elect a new Pope) that we are blessed with another Pope who will lead the Catholic Church in the same Spirit as Francis who embodied Jesus Christ during his papacy.
Virginia Saldanha is a theologian and journalist based in Mumbai, and former executive secretary of the Office of Laity and Family of the Asian Catholic Bishops’ Forum. |
