As the world reacts to the sad news of the death of Pope Francis, we come together in prayer to give thanks for the life of such a special leader.
CAFOD’s Director, Christine Allen, remembers how Pope Francis’s warmth and kindness shone through whenever she met him as part of her work. “I met Pope Francis at meetings of the Caritas Internationalis network, and his warmth, passion and desire for a more just and equal world were evident,” she said. “He challenged all of us, but he did it with love. He was a true disciple who will be sorely missed.”
A ministry of hope
Pope Francis said that his own life story was a journey of hope. He understood that in a world that can feel scary or divided, God’s love and the hope it brings is needed more than ever. In fact, he made hope the theme of this Jubilee year.
His dream was of a Church that “is poor and is for the poor”, and he used his influence to spotlight forgotten crises. Bernard Balibuno, CAFOD’s country representative for Democratic Republic of Congo, said of Pope Francis’ visit to the country in 2023: “The visit of the Holy Father came at a critical time. Pope Francis’ message of Peace and hope has meant so much to my country. Millions turning out to welcome him, of all faiths and none. It is not just the message of peace that has touched our hearts, but also his message of solidarity.”
A Pope of firsts
Pope Francis’s influence on the world – and CAFOD’s work – has been enormous.
He reminded us that the earth is a gift to be cherished and called us to act as stewards of our common home. He drew attention to the suffering of refugees – warning against the Mediterranean being allowed to become ‘a vast cemetery’ – and even as he faced ill health towards the end of his life, he was tireless in calling out governments on the unfair debt crisis facing lower-income countries.
But with all his influence and power, he never lost his ability to be in the world, amongst people. Gaza’s Catholic parish knew, even when facing daily bombardment, they could expect a phone-call every night at 7pm from Pope Francis to check how they were, a routine he started in October 2023 and kept up right until his death.
He tried to make the Church a welcoming place for all people, and he reminded us that only God could rightfully judge people.
And he did everything in a warm, friendly manner, with the trademark humour he became known for. The day he was elected pope – the first non-European pope in over 1,000 years – he greeted crowds at St Peter’s Basilica and joked: “It seems the Cardinals have gone to the end of the world to get you a pope!”
In the end
As the world mourns his passing, Pope Francis’ legacy will be remembered as one that brought the Church closer to its mission of love, mercy and justice. His teachings will continue to inspire Catholics and non-Catholics alike, ensuring that his call for environmental responsibility and a fairer world remains alive for generations to come.
Pope Francis wrote: “In the end we will say only: I don’t recall anything in which You are not there.”
We give thanks for his life, and commend him to God’s mercy and love.
