Right, so, a sad start to Easter Monday with the sudden announcement of the passing of Pope Francis, a man who shook up the Vatican, shook up the Catholic Church, pulled it away from too many years of conservatism and sought instead to address the real world problems the Catholic Church was there to stand up against, for ordinary people and against oppression and did so regardless of faith, making himself plenty of enemies along the way who would have preferred the church remain too often inward looking and insular, looking out for itself rather than standing up for others. Francis changed that, his papal name taken after St Francis of Assisi, a man heavily associated with penitence and helping the poor. This is a man admired not just by the Catholic Church but by the world, his calling out of Israel and standing up for the people of Gaza most notable in recent times, Francis calling the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City every single day right up to the end to check up on priests and parishioners there. If ever deification was right and justified, this is it. I hope the next pope will continue in Francis’ stead and not revert to the easier path of his predecessors.
Right, so the passing of Pope Francis this morning at the age of 88, marks a moment of significant transition for the Catholic Church and the world, a choice to continue Francis’s path of change, not the easiest path, making him plenty of enemies along the way, but the easy path is the path of inward looking and navel gazing and a return to that will be a tragic backwards step for Catholicism. As the first Latin American pontiff and the first Jesuit pope, he brought a unique perspective to the papacy, characterized by humility, inclusivity, and a steadfast commitment to social justice, combined with a cheeky smile and a wicked sense of humour. His death leaves a profound void in global leadership, when so many global leaders are so ruddy awful right now, but his legacy endures as a beacon for the oppressed and a challenge to the powerful.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Francis joined the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1969. He rose through the ranks to become the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001. His election as pope in 2013 was historic—not only was he the first Jesuit pope, but he was also the first pope from the Americas and the first non-European pope in over a millennium.
From the outset of his papacy, Francis sought to reform the Catholic Church, emphasising a return to its foundational principles of humility and service. He declined the opulent papal apartments, choosing instead to reside in the simpler Vatican guesthouse, symbolic I daresay of his commitment to simplicity and solidarity with the poor.
Pope Francis's papacy was defined by his unwavering advocacy for the marginalized and his willingness to confront the powerful. He consistently spoke out against social injustices, including poverty, inequality, and the arms trade. His 2015 address to the United States Congress included a poignant condemnation of the global arms trade, urging lawmakers to consider the morality of selling weapons to those who would use them to inflict suffering.
His commitment to peace was evident in his diplomatic efforts, including his 2019 visit to South Sudan, where he knelt to kiss the feet of rival leaders in a powerful plea for reconciliation. He also visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki, condemning the use and possession of nuclear weapons and calling for a world free of such threats.
Pope Francis was not afraid to challenge global powers when their actions contradicted his moral vision. He condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza, describing them as acts of terrorism and calling for an international investigation into potential war crimes. He also criticised U.S. President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies, labelling them incompatible with Christian values and human dignity and with a particularly caustic comparison said:
‘The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king.’
His stance on NATO expansion was another point of contention. He argued that the alliance's eastward expansion contributed to tensions leading to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a position that put him at odds with many Western leaders, including Keir Starmer, who has nonetheless put out a gushing eulogy of the pope, one part of which especially struck me for the sheer hypocrisy on show:
‘Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine persecution and poverty.’
Yeah, he rang that church in Gaza City every night, whilst you continue to support Israel’s atrocities, no matter what faith or denomination those Palestinian people might be.
A more fitting comment came from the Pastor of Bethlehem, Munther Isaac, who said:
‘Palestinian, and Palestinian Christians in particular, have lost a dear friend today. Pope Francis was beloved in Palestine. He conveyed true compassion to Palestinians, most notably to those in Gaza during this genocide. His pastoral heart was evident in his insistence on calling the Christian community besieged in Gaza on a constant basis, even from his hospital. Some years ago, Pope Francis visited Bethlehem. We all remember the iconic image of him praying at the Wall. This is what I wrote about this incident in my book “The Other Side of the Wall”. When Pope Francis stopped, touched the wall, and said a prayer, it was truly a monumental moment that made waves in world news. Pope Francis couldn’t help but notice the ugliness of this concrete structure at the heart of Bethlehem. This wall should make us all uncomfortable. To this discomfort, the Pope couldn’t help but react and reach out. By responding in this manner, the Pope touched more than the wall. He touched the ugliness of the occupation and war. He touched the depth of our suffering. With humility and weakness, he looked injustice in the eyes, and challenged it. What did he say in his prayer? The truth is, I don’t want to know. Some words are better left unspoken. The image of him standing next to the wall and praying will forever be engraved in our memories. For me, this image went everywhere. On my office wall, Facebook page, desktop wallpaper. For us as Palestinian Christians, this image was stored deep into our memory. And when this wall falls one day (not if, when), we might go back to this moment and this prayer as one of the key moments that led to its fall. At the end of the day, the Pope left, and the occupation and the wall remained. But we were left with a renewed sense of hope—knowing that we are not forgotten. We were left with a mandate to continue lamenting the current situation, to fight against injustice . . . and to pray. The Pope left our world today, and the occupation and the wall remained. Even worse, he left our world while a genocide continues to unfold. Back in November he wrote: “I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory… According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.” Today I wonder: Will the millions who will mourn his death these coming days respect this wish of his? Will they care for Gazans and Palestinians the way he did? May his soul rest in glory with his Savior. Humanity lost a special soul today.’
Frankly everything I’ve said and have left to say doesn’t hold a candle to that and I’m almost embarrassed to continue, but I’ve a bit more to say.
His outreach to the LGBTQ community, while cautious, represented a significant shift in the Church's approach to issues of sexuality and inclusion and I think in light of the appalling judgement the other day here in the UK surrounding the trans debate, it showed that even the Catholic church can be more forward thinking on such matters that supposed governments and courts of law and especially stupidly rich people on their yachts celebrating such a regressive step. He advocated for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and called for greater pastoral care for LGBTQ individuals, emphasizing the Church's role as a place of mercy and understanding rather than joining in with unjustifiable objection.
In his final public statement, Pope Francis condemned Vice-halfwit JD Vance upon his visit to Rome, reiterating his commitment to justice and compassion in defiance of Trump and Vance’s abusive administration. This last act of defiance was a fitting conclusion to a papacy defined by courage in the face of adversity, standing up to the rich and powerful for the poor and oppressed. It underscored his belief that the Church must always stand with the oppressed and challenge the powerful when they act unjustly.
Pope Francis's death leaves a significant void in global leadership at a time when we have far too many right wing fools in it for themselves, thinking nothing of those they are supposed to represent. His unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and the dignity of every human being has inspired millions around the world, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, I’m Anglican, yet I still felt the need to do a piece on this man. His papacy was not without controversy and he could have gone further on some issues certainly, but his legacy is one of profound moral clarity and compassion, setting him apart from so many of his predecessors. He will be remembered as a pope who stood up for the poor and oppressed, who challenged the powerful, and who sought to make the Church a force for good in the world.
As the world mourns his passing, it is essential to reflect on the lessons of his life and work and carry on the fights he championed. Pope Francis's example calls us to prioritise the needs of the marginalised, to speak truth to power, and to work tirelessly for a more just and compassionate world. His legacy is a testament to the enduring power of faith, humility, and courage in the face of injustice.
May we honour his memory by continuing the work he began, striving to build a world where justice, peace, and dignity are the birthright of all and never stop calling out animosity, oppression and cruelty, especially at government level, wherever we find it.
Certainly his focus on the matter of Israel and Gaza was notable and so a story of others perhaps taking a leaf out of his book and giving Benjamin Netanyahu an almighty headache is most appropriate for your recommended next watch, so check this story out here if you think so too. Please do also hit like, share and subscribe if you haven’t already done so, so as to ensure you don’t miss out on all new daily content as well as helping to support the channel at the same time, which is very much appreciated, holding power to account for ordinary working class people and I will hopefully catch you on the next vid. Cheers folks.