Humble and compassionate Pope Francis 1936-2025

Pope Francis would be remembered as a man of simplicity, humility and compassion. Those were the words of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB who spoke soon after the pope’s death on Easter Monday.

He said, “When Cardinal Bergoglio appeared on the balcony overlooking Saint Peter’s Square on 14 March 2013, and was introduced to the world as the newly-elected Pope Francis, his simplicity and humility set the tone for a papacy which would be marked by an emphasis on the mercy and compassion of God, and on the Church’s vocation to be a sign and bearer of that merciful love in an increasingly troubled world.

“His famous description of the Church as a field hospital where wounds could be healed and hearts could be warmed was a call to a renewal of the Church’s life and mission, grounded in a return to Christ as the source and inspiration of everything the Church sought to do and to be.”

Pope Francis often emphasised the vital role of the family as the foundation of society and the Church. “The family is the first school of human values, where we learn the wise use of freedom,” he said. He also stressed that families were called to be a living sign of God’s love and mercy, and to be a light in the world. 

“In the family, “three words need to be used. I want to repeat this! Three words: ‘Please’, ‘Thank you’, ‘Sorry’. Three essential words!

“The life of every family is marked by all kinds of crises, yet these are also part of its dramatic beauty.” 

Pope Francis was elected the 266^th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was the first Jesuit to be elected pope and the first non-European in one thousand years. 

After being made a cardinal in 2001, he was known for his simple lifestyle that included living in a small apartment rather than the elegant bishop’s residence, taking public transport and cooking his own meals. These decisions enhanced his reputation for humility.

Pope Francis has left an indelible mark on both the Vatican and the worldwide community. His legacy, underscored by his commitment to the Church, encompasses social, environmental, theological, and political dimensions.

One of the most notable aspects of Pope Francis’ legacy was his emphasis on social justice. From the outset of his papacy, he advocated for the marginalised, the poor, and the oppressed, and his calls for economic reform and attention to inequality resonated with many.

In his 2015 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, he denounced the “idolatry of money” and the growing inequality between the rich and the poor, making a case for an economic system that prioritises human dignity. He visited Manila slums, Middle East refugee camps, and the poor neighbourhoods of Latin America which reflected his deep commitment to ‘walking with the poor’.

Another highlight of his papacy was his focus on the environment, which became apparent with the publication of his 2015 encyclical Laudato si’. In this groundbreaking document, Pope Francis called for urgent action on climate change, warning the Earth is “our common home” and that its destruction disproportionately affects the poor.

He defined the environmental crisis not just as an ecological issue but as a moral one, urging humanity to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.

Theologically, Pope Francis pushed the Catholic Church to adopt a more pastoral approach to many sensitive issues. His tone of compassion and mercy was most obvious when he reached out to people who had been ostracised by traditional Church teachings, especially the LGBTQ+ community and divorced Catholics.

His famous 2016 document Amoris Laetitia addressed the complexities of family life, suggesting that the church should offer a more merciful approach to divorced and remarried Catholics, allowing them to fully participate in the life of the church. While this position stirred controversy within more conservative factions of the Church, it underlined his belief in the primacy of mercy over rigid doctrinal enforcement.

Pope Francis’ stance on interfaith dialogue and peace is also a feature of his papacy. His efforts to strengthen relationships with other religions, particularly Islam and Judaism, reflected his belief in building bridges rather than walls. His 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi and his signing of a historic document on fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar emphasised the possibility of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among different faiths.

Pope Francis was also a vocal advocate for refugees and immigrants, reflecting his Argentinian upbringing in a country shaped by migration. His calls for the world to welcome those fleeing war and poverty made him an important figure in global debates over immigration policies. His views often put him at odds with political leaders, especially in the United States and Europe, where anti-immigrant sentiments have surged.

While his papacy has not been without controversy, no one can argue against his absolute commitment to social justice, compassion, and peace.

Second image: Pope Francis greets family members during an audience with participants in an international congress on protecting children in a digital world in 2017.

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