The Catholic Church lost its most enduring counsellor, philosopher, guide and environmentalist par excellence when Pope Francis breathed his last on April 21, at 7.35 am Italy Time (11.05 am IST). Pope Francis, a Jesuit, is the first Latin American pope who rose from a humble childhood in Argentina to become the leader of the world’s largest and most powerful church. The Pope had been keeping indifferent health and recently spent five weeks in a hospital on account of pneumonia but on Easter Sunday he appeared before the crowd that had gathered at St Peter’s Square for his blessings. Pope Francis led the Catholic congregation numbering about one billion faithful for over 12 years. He was uncoventional and a free-thinking liberal who was empathetic towards the rejects of society – the LGBTQ+ gay community and the victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy. He was never in denial of such transgressions in the church and tried his best to address the issue even while he reached out to the victims of such acts. It took moral courage to take this issue head-on.
A peace-builder in his own right Pope Francis even extended the hand of friendship to Muslim clerics and called for world peace, knowing that the poor suffer the most during wars. Above all, Pope Francis was perhaps the only religious head who took a firm stand on climate change and blamed the powerful countries for their role in adding to the greenhouse effect that has changed climate irrevocably. He will be known as the Pope who cared immensely for the environment. Pope Francis’ encyclicals to the Catholic community are lessons for the whole world to follow. They are sensitive, pragmatic and take a holistic view of global issues and their impact on humans, particularly the defenceless. Pope Francis believed in diversity and made sure to elect bishops who reflected that diversity. He continued to travel widely, focusing on exploited and war-torn parts of Africa, where he rebuked the modern-day colonizers and sought peace in South Sudan. He spoke boldly against wars and oppression. Pope Francis travelled widely and steered away from convention when he reached out not just to the Catholic community but to all who needed his comforting gestures. He believed that his role was to reach out to those at the margins rather than wait for them to come to the Vatican – which they could ill afford to do.
Considering that Pope Francis was the most vocal votary of earth in the balance it is surprising that the Catholic Church does not seem to display this concern even closer home where the environment is in a state of disarray and afflicted by human greed and apathy. Will the Catholic Church rise to the occasion and honour its most ‘human’ Pontiff by following in his footsteps? That would be a lasting tribute to a leader who walked the talk and it would be the only way to keep his memory alive.
