Farewell Pope Francis: People’s pope with many firsts
Pope Francis passed away on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced. He was 88, and has been ailing for some time.
“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Farrell said in the announcement.
Last month, the Pope was discharged from hospital where he was treated for five weeks for an infection that led to double pneumonia.
On Sunday, Pope Francis had appeared at the Vatican's St Peter's Square to wish the faithful "Happy Easter". He had come out in a wheelchair and waved to the people from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis: The pontiff of the modern era
As he emerged to the Loggia of the Blessings, raising his arm in a half-wave to the crowd that had gathered for days outside St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis took a moment to gaze upon the sea of faces, all raised up to him in elation. For nearly two minutes, he stood in silence, the crowd chanting “Francesco” in all might and glory. But soon, his smile, with which he entered the balcony, faded, as the gravity of his new role settled in. The weight of the Catholic Church rested upon him and holy duty passed on from the then recently retired Pope Benedict XVI to this humble man from Argentina.
“Brothers and sisters, good evening,” the new pope began his first papal address, his words resonating with the tired crowd, who was then rejuvenated with life, as their cheered and waved the Argentinian flag. Their excitement was palpable among the South Americans, as they celebrated having their first pope from their region, the first non-European pontiff since Pope Gregory II in 731 AD.
Pope Francis bore that distinction, not only as a symbol of South America’s spiritual prominence, but also as a beacon of change within the Church. His twelve-year papacy was marked by his humility, pragmatism, and unwavering commitment to social justice, reshaping the role of pope in ways few could have imagine. It was a happy surprise, given that the role of the leader of the Catholic Church was seen as somewhat stringent and done “by the book”.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, the pontiff was also the first Jesuit pope in the history of elected popes. Throughout his tenure, he transformed old thinking, merging them will the modern times while aligning with the Catholic Church’s ancient teachings, championing compassion over dogma.
Upon his election, the humble man, now adorned in new clothes – from a red robed cardinal to the white papal vestments – rejected a major opulence typically associated with the papacy, residence in the Apostolic Palace. Instead, he chose two rooms at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Saint Martha's House) as his abode – a guest house created by Pope John Paul II, adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica, where cardinals typically rest during the conclave. The words in the Bible, which he sought to educate the public, became his practise – rejection of the excess.
“Let us pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world,” he urged. His papacy championed a Church that operates like a “field hospital”, where healing and aid takes precedence over judgement. He called for a faith rooted in empathy, encouraging inclusion for those historically marginalised by the Church, encouraging meaningful dialogue in an effort to bridge gaps between the traditional teachings and the contemporary realities.
He was a pope on a mission – a mission to connect the antique and rich heritage of Catholicism with the ever-changing modern era. Early in his papacy, he famously vouched for the LGBTQ+ community, saying, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”. Though the statement was accompanied by raised eyebrows from his own subordinates, and the public to whom he proclaimed it to, he held true to his word.
The white robed man also created a link between faiths. The anxieties between Christianity and Islam are well-known – from creating menial verbal arguments to border dividing wars, the co-existence of the two religions seems like a distant dream. Pope Francis took that extra step too, joining hands with Islam’s religious leader, he signed the Document of Human Fraternity with Egypt’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb during his groundbreaking 2019 visit to the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi.
As we reflect on Pope Francis’ legacy, we recognize a leader who brought moral clarity to a world often clouded by division and self-interest. He reshaped the papacy into something more human, more approachable, and more engaged with the real struggles of people. He challenged the status quo, not through dramatic upheaval, but through a steady, persistent push for a more inclusive and conscientious Church.
Now, as we bid farewell to the 266th pope, one recognises the heavy impact he left on the world, not just for the Catholics. And though the world mourns, the conclave must soon gather to choose his successor, who will bear this great responsibility of continuing the work Pope Francis began.
“Brothers and sister, I am leaving you, Thank you so much for your welcome. Pray for me, and see you soon,” Pope Francis concluded his inaugural papal address, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Catholic Church.
World