An atmosphere of jubilation prevailed among Christians worldwide on Sunday, April 20, marking the Feast of the Resurrection of Lord Jesus which reminded the believers that with Lord Jesus rising from the dead, death is no longer invincible as Lord Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, and anyone who believing Me will live even after dying." (John 11: 25)

Yet on Easter Monday, jubilation was shattered with reports that Pope had passed away. It was a moment that reflected deep sadness with the great loss of the Holy Father who will always be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church, and his tireless commitment to the causes of the suffering of people of faith.

Pope Francis is always remembered for his perspicacious outlook about world affairs as he bought a humane and moral perspective to the world stage by calling for action in the face of human suffering. He was steadily an advocate for the dignity of humans regardless of any consideration with views transcending religious boundaries and resonating in all parts of the world. He was well-known for standing with the poor, condemning arms race, while urging world leaders to resort to dialogue over wars, mercy over vengeance and reconciliation over dissension.

Among his earliest achievements in his pontificate was visiting the Holy Land as a pilgrim in 2014 where his tireless appeals and constant visits showed his closeness to those suffering the consequences of one of the most unjust human-made disasters, namely war. His visit served as a deep commitment to interfaith dialogue and peace in the Middle East's conflicts as he not only visited Christian holy sites but as well visited Al-Aqsa Mosque which manifested a gesture of the importance of inter-faith dialogue. On the other hand, he explicitly addressed the humanitarian suffering in Gaza as he persistently reiterated his calls for the protection of lives and launching genuine dialogue. With the eruption of hostilities in Gaza in October 2023, the Pope made daily phone calls to the Holy Family parish in Gaza while offering solidarity and spiritual support. At his last public appearance, Pope Francis repeated what had become a slogan in his pontificate of peace, and during the Easter Urbi et Orbi blessing, the day before he died, the Pope’s words resonated during which he urged world leaders to lay down arms and turn to dialogue.

The Pope is remembered for his Laudato si’ encyclical on the environment that was viewed as “the most important piece of intellectual criticism in our time” ‘as its focuses on integral ecology’, namely the notion that the climate crisis is intrinsically linked to our present day social, political, and economic problems, and cannot be addressed in isolation from them. The Pope wrote, “We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Thus, we need an integrated approach to combating poverty one which “protects nature while at the same time restoring dignity to the excluded.”

Among his other achievements is that he pushed for a greater sense of unity between all Christian Churches which was evident through his words and deeds; and he left behind a legacy of commitment to Africa’s quest for peace, social justice, and integral development. Furthermore, he contributed to friendship and dialogue between Christians and peoples of other religions.

Pope Francis has been a holy man who dedicated his life, particularly through his pontificate, to serve all aspects of humanity and transcend it towards perfection and purity. He was a holy man of prayer and intellect with a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. He encouraged everyone to be an instrument of Christ’s compassionate love by extending a kind and merciful hand to the marginalized and those most in need.

The legacy of His Holiness Pope Francis is indelible as it will remain a bright star in the history of the Catholic Church.

Requiescat in pace et in amore. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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