Our Beloved Pope Francis – A Shepherd of Proximity and Humanity

You left us, Holy Father, on Monday, April 21st, 2025, at the age of 88, during the sacred octave of Easter. After twelve years of a papacy marked by love, mercy, and courageous faith, you returned to the Father, leaving behind a Church renewed and enlivened by the heart of a humble and poor shepherd.

 

Lover of the Poor

From the very beginning, you chose the name Francis to embody your vision of a Church that is poor and for the poor. You reminded us that “a life that chases after wants without seeing who is in need is an empty life.” You lived and preached the Gospel with a profound commitment to the marginalized and forgotten.

 

Your motto, « Miserando atque eligendo »—« He looked upon him with mercy and chose him »— captured the essence of your spirituality. You often told us, with the tenderness of a father: “Know that someone loves you, calls you by name, and has chosen you. The only thing He asks of you is to let yourself be loved.”

 

Defender of Migrants and the Forgotten

You became a powerful voice for migrants, refugees, and all those on the margins. You called upon bishops and world leaders to honor the dignity of every human being, despite the complexity of global challenges.

 

A Father of Tenderness

Through simple gestures and words filled with compassion, you taught us the culture of tenderness—the call to care for others as God lovingly cares for us.

 

Shepherd of the Universal Church

Your ability to communicate the Gospel and the mysteries of our faith with clarity and depth moved hearts around the world. Through your catechesis, homilies, and encyclicals, you inspired believers and nonbelievers alike.

 

Reformer Who Listened to the People of God

Your deep love for Christ and His Church led you to confront painful truths with courage:

• You challenged bureaucracy within the Curia, episcopal conferences, and dioceses.
• You championed transparency and accountability.
• You elevated the role of the laity and encouraged the inclusion of women in Church leadership.
• You fought against sexual abuse with unwavering resolve.
• You denounced clericalism and called for an authentic, humble, and servant Church.

Servant of the Servants of God

In the footsteps of Christ, you reminded us that we are called to be free servants, not slaves— sons and daughters on a journey who must guard against two great dangers: the hunger for power and disloyalty to truth.