On April 21, the world mourned the death of the Roman Catholic Church’s 266th pope. The keyword being “world,” as many people from diverse religious backgrounds mourned the loss of a pope who broke barriers.
I found out about the pope’s death like many others: while scrolling through Instagram. I stared blankly at the New York Times post announcing his death before deciding to repost it on my story. Even though I am Muslim, I had seen many others do the same and felt that he deserved to be recognized. I had a few people respond asking why I would post since I wasn’t Christian, let alone Catholic, which led me to think deeper about why Pope Francis was such a significant figure in my life.
Following the conservative papacy of Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis made it clear that tradition would not define his papacy. At his first address as Pope in 2013, he greeted the thousands of people surrounding St. Peter’s Basilica with a warm smile and invited everyone to pray for him. His choice to have others pray for him rather than the other way around gave the new Pope an air of humility and accessibility that was yet to be seen in the papacy. That simple gesture established Pope Francis as a pope of the people.
Pope Francis maintained a humble reputation throughout his papacy. Instead of living in the grand Papal Palace, Pope Francis chose to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a simple guest house in the Vatican City. Pope Francis preferred to take public transportation or buses with his cardinals rather than ride in lavish limousines. Refusing to take advantage of his papal privileges, Pope Francis also made a point to demonstrate that his position did not render him superior.
Pope Francis constantly advocated for marginalized communities regardless of their race or religion. He strongly supported poorer communities, claiming that he would like “a Church which is poor and for the poor.” Pope Francis was known for traveling where other popes had never dared to set foot and frequenting prisons. Although it was a controversial stance, Pope Francis remained strong in his belief that LGBTQ+ individuals should be treated with respect and dignity. Through these initiatives, Pope Francis made the Church more welcoming and accessible for everyone.
Pope Francis didn’t always get everything right, but the way he dealt with his shortcomings is something that we could all learn from. Amidst the host of pedophilia scandals within the Church, Pope Francis found himself defending Bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering for Fernando Karadima, a Chilean priest responsible for the sexual abuse of several minors. This pushed survivor Juan Carlos Cruz, who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Karadima, away from the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis later apologized for his response to the abuse and invited Cruz and other survivors to the Vatican. Cruz and Pope Francis joined forces to put a stop to sexual abuse in the Church while developing a close friendship. Cruz was eventually appointed to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, a task force created by Pope Francis to protect vulnerable individuals within the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis was a figure who represented more than just the Church he served. He was a symbol of change in an institution that had long been characterized by its conservative values. His innovative reach surpassed the Vatican walls and into homes like mine. In a time where our politics, country and world feel so divided, Pope Francis reminded us of a fact so simple that it transcends the papacy.
Kindness is felt universally.
