Pope Francis, who was called the “People’s Pope” by Time magazine at the age of 88 passed away on the morning after Easter, becoming a testament to a life of daily devotion to God.
Francis was the first pope born in South America and also the first Jesuit pope. He chose the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi who gave up wealth to live a life of poverty, thereby expressing his own life mission to the world. Over the past 12 years as pope, Francis has demonstrated his unwavering faith, consistently speaking out for the oppressed and conveying God’s compassion for the marginalized.
When Francis was elected pope, he was already 76 years old and not in ideal health. Earlier on he suffered from pneumonia and spent 38 days in the hospital, during which doctors said he had several near-death moments. Although doctors recommended at least two months of rest, Francis insisted on fulfilling his duties and presided over the Easter events. On Maundy Thursday, as per tradition, he still visited a prison. Though no longer physically able to follow the custom of washing the feet of inmates like Jesus did with His disciples, he offered them blessings instead. Francis repeatedly criticized President Trump and his administration’s policies, including the expulsion of refugees. However, just a day before his passing, Francis still met with visiting Vice President JD Vance and gave gifts to his three children.
Francis broke with many Vatican traditions. Upon taking office, he called for financial reform within the Catholic Church and emphasized transparency. He insisted on living simply, choosing not to reside in the papal residence in the Vatican, which has over ten rooms. Instead, he lived in a modest suite with only two rooms. Although Catholic doctrine opposes homosexuality, in 2023, Francis issued a decree allowing clergy to bless same-sex couples outside of the sacraments. He once said, “If a homosexual person seeks God with goodwill, who am I to judge?”
Francis hoped that all people would treat women who had abortions—especially due to poverty or sexual assault—with compassion: “Faced with such painful situations, who could remain unmoved?” Regarding the ban on divorced and remarried Catholics receiving the Eucharist, he criticized the idea that Communion should be reserved only for the perfect, saying its true purpose is “to nourish the weak.”
From the war in Ukraine to the conflict in Gaza, Francis tirelessly advocated for peace. In March of last year, he controversially suggested that Ukraine should have the “courage to raise the white flag” and pursue negotiations. Regarding Trump’s border wall to stop immigration, he said such actions were “not Christian.” Not long ago, he issued an open letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, declaring that Trump’s immigration policy was doomed to “begin and end in evils.”
It can be said that during his papacy, Pope Francis embodied how modern Christians can live out and uphold their faith under the weight of church history and tradition. Francis was a different kind of leader—one who, beyond national power and corporate wealth, set a life example for all people around the world to follow.
Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher of Sameway Magazine