VATICAN CITY (VATICAN CITY)
The South China Morning Post (scmp) [Causeway Bay, Hong Kong]
April 27, 2025
By Cliff Buddle
Francis’ words at Easter were ones of reconciliation, compassion, inclusivity and understanding. Let us hope that they will be heeded
The spectacular funeral of Pope Francis, with 400,000 mourners in and around St Peter’s Square, provided a fitting tribute to a man who made a difference. He will not be an easy act to follow.
Among the crowds gathered to pay their respects were 50 heads of states, part of 170 foreign delegations. They should all reflect on the late pope’s legacy and, especially, his persistent calls for peace, compassion and care for the world’s most vulnerable.
The death of an 88-year-old, recently discharged from hospital, would not normally come as a shock.
But Francis, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years, had raised hopes he was recovering by appearing on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday. The pontiff even greeted cheering crowds from his Popemobile.
Sadly, this turned out to be his swansong. Francis had been determined to attend to his duties until the end, ignoring medical advice to take a break. As one archbishop put it, he preferred “to die with his boots on”.
Francis, the first pope from Latin America, was a surprise choice when elected in 2013. He took over the Catholic Church at a time of crisis, an institution disgraced by an appalling sex scandal involving abuse by members of the clergy and riven by internal divisions.
The new pope, a progressive – at least by the conservative standards of the Catholic Church – rose to the challenge. He pledged an “all out battle” on sexual abuse, held an unprecedented summit to hear testimony from victims and made reporting of allegations compulsory. Such efforts must continue.
Francis shifted the church’s position on controversial issues, declaring the death penalty unacceptable and nuclear weapons immoral. He was more accepting of the LGBTQ community, a welcome development.
But the Catholic Church continues to face the challenge of remaining relevant and adapting to modern values.
Francis took it forward by adopting an inclusive approach, reaching out to the developing world, striking a landmark deal with Beijing on the appointment of bishops and overseeing a rise in the number of Catholics globally. He also sought to appeal to the young, who were well-represented among the pilgrims who flocked to Rome for the funeral.
But it is his returning of the church to the core mission of speaking for the poor, the powerless and the vulnerable for which he will be best remembered. This is badly needed, at a time when the world is beset by war, climate change and economic uncertainty.
Francis laid down a marker very early in his papacy. His first pastoral visit was to an Italian island in the Mediterranean to meet migrants from Libya. He spoke of the “globalisation of indifference” towards the plight of refugees.
And his last trip, one he had made many times, was to a jail in Rome to deliver Easter wishes to prisoners.
At Francis’ request, a group of 40 people greeting his coffin at his final resting place, Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, included migrants, prisoners, homeless people and members of the transgender community.
The Catholic Church continues to face many challenges. It is not an institution that appeals to everyone. But like all religions, it should be a force for good.
If Francis knew his Easter message would be his last, he made the most of the opportunity. No punches were pulled. The speech, read out on his behalf, called for a ceasefire in Gaza and “a just and lasting” peace in Ukraine.
He lamented the great “thirst for death” in conflicts raging around the world and the contempt shown for “the vulnerable, the marginalised and migrants”.
Francis appealed to political leaders not to yield to the logic of fear but to use resources to fight hunger and promote development. These, he said, were “the weapons of peace”.
His final message was one of reconciliation, compassion, inclusivity and understanding. It is a vital tenet for our times and for all times. We can only hope that it is heeded.