Reformed stance on death penalty, N-weapons, LGBT set Francis apart

Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church’s teaching in areas such as the death penalty and nuclear weapons, upheld it in others such as abortion, and made inroads with Muslims and believers who long felt marginalised.

Here’s a look at where Francis stood on key issues:

Abortion

Francis upheld church teaching opposing abortion and echoed his predecessors in saying that human life is sacred and must be defended. He described abortion, as well as euthanasia, as evidence of today’s “throwaway culture” and likened abortion to “hiring a hit man to resolve a problem”.

But he didn’t emphasise the church’s position to the extent his predecessors did, and said women who had abortions must be accompanied spiritually by the church.

Capitalism

Some conservative US commentators accused Francis of having Marxist sympathies, given his frequent denunciations of economic systems that “idolise” money over people and clear distaste for US-style capitalism.

He called for a universal basic income, dignified wages and working conditions, and said that while globalisation had saved many from poverty, “it has condemned many others to die of hunger because it’s a selective economic system”.

Death penalty

Francis went beyond his predecessors and changed Catholic teaching to state that the death penalty is “inadmissible” in all cases, regardless of the severity of the crime. Francis also called life in prison without parole a “hidden death penalty” and solitary confinement a “form of torture”, saying both should be abolished.

Nuclear weapons

Francis went further than his predecessors — and church teaching — by saying that not only the use, but the mere possession of nuclear weapons was “immoral”. The church previously held that nuclear deterrence could be morally acceptable in the interim as long as it went for disarmament.

Besides, he assured gay people that God loves them as they are and that “being homosexual is not a crime”.

Tributes pour in

US President Donald Trump said, “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” US President Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social.

Italian PM Meloni mourned the departure of “a great man, a great shepherd”. Russian President Putin said, “Please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of His Holiness.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Pope Francis was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice.”

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