POPE FRANCIS has passed from this world, to the great sorrow of all who loved him and his style of leadership as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
He was the only pope in 1,282 years who was not a European, as well as the first Jesuit to be elected pontiff.
He was arguably the most humble, compassionate and dedicated defender of the poor, as well as fighter for human rights and the dignity of all. Other popes were considered traditional and conservative, focused on dogma and the purity of Church teaching, but Pope Francis focused more on alleviating the suffering of the poor.
He was considered a progressive pope, having strong solidarity with the poor, the excluded, migrants, refugees and the downtrodden of this world. He had openly criticized multinational corporations for their wild exploitation of poor nations and creating greater poverty.
He recognized the rights of every marginalized group. When asked about gay people in the Church in 2013, Pope Francis’ response caused a stir: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?”
He lived a simple life and put aside the elaborate ermine capes and other traditional regalia of the papacy. He even lived in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse instead of the papal apartments, saying of the latter: “It is big and spacious … and I cannot live without people. I need to live my life with others.”
He had other guests to talk to at breakfast and dinner. He ignored the papal limousine associated with the rich and the powerful and chose a small vehicle to ride in. He was truly a servant of the people and a washer of feet.
He went to prisons and, like Jesus of Nazareth, washed and kissed the feet of prisoners. He wanted his bishops and priests to dress simply, put aside gold-braided clerical vestments and live simply as humble servants of the poor.
He visited people in remote and poor communities worldwide. One time, he even brought three Syrian Muslim refugee families from Lampedusa Island to Rome, where he helped them settle as an example of respect and outreach, and called on other nations to do the same.
He was a powerful voice calling for the protection of the environment, and of Creation, and spoke out against violence and war. In his powerful encyclical “Laudato Si’ (Praise Be to You),” he called for the conservation and protection of the planet and all life.
He initiated historic reforms with a synod on synodality, a system of dialogue in the Church where the laity, bishops and priests talk face-to-face and share concerns, guided by the Holy Spirit, to achieve the mission of Jesus of Nazareth. (To be continued)/PN
