There is no doubt that the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Roman Catholics worldwide, represents a significant loss, not only for the Roman Catholic Church and its followers around the world, something like one and a half billion people, but also for Christianity as a whole.
It is a loss for the West and Europe in the civilisational sense, and indeed it is a loss for the whole of humanity, regardless of religious beliefs. The late Pope was by any standard exceptional, especially among those who have held the office in the post-World War II period. This is not meant to be a merely rhetorical expression or said out of courtesy. Instead, it is a statement that has reflected the reality we have lived in since Pope Francis assumed this spiritual position in March 2013.
The late Pope came from Argentina in Latin America, a continent where Liberation Theology emerged in the early 1960s due to the unjust political, economic, and social conditions endured by the vast majority of the lower and middle classes there at the time, most of whom were Catholics.
Some Catholic clergymen decided to reject the justifications for these unjust conditions from a religious standpoint and sided with what they believed to be the essence of the Christian faith, while also supporting the masses of believers. They also relied on documents issued by some organs of the Roman Catholic Church itself in the late 1950s and early 1960s that expressed differences with those who used Christianity to suggest that the faithful should accept the political, economic, and social injustices they faced on the grounds that they would be rewarded in the next life.
These documents called for improving the social and economic conditions of the lower and middle classes in both Europe and Latin America, drawing on the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, his disciples, and the saints of early Christianity. Meanwhile, the appeal of Liberation Theology was not limited to these aspects only but also extended to the empowerment of women, young people, and children and the protection and defence of their rights.
The intellectual formation of Pope Francis took place against this rich religious and intellectual background, which he sought to reflect throughout his 12-year papacy through his activities, sermons, and intellectual contributions. He adopted firm and courageous positions on what he believed expressed the essence of the Christian faith, evident in his stances on issues affecting Catholics specifically, as well as those concerning humanity at large.
In both cases, his positions stemmed from a progressive and humanistic vision of the role of religion in human societies, since he believed that as a divinely inspired teaching Christianity must align with the good of the vast majority of its believers and with that of humanity in general.
For this reason, he rejected the justification of any form of injustice, discrimination, or racism based on distorted interpretations of religious texts or practices. He considered all such phenomena to be violations of God’s teachings and of true Christian doctrine, calling for the application of justice, equality, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms of all kinds, and the dignity of all people irrespective of their beliefs, colour, race, gender, social background, or class or regional affiliations.
He was the voice of the living conscience of Christianity and its commitment to the poor, the marginalised, and the oppressed, rather than of official Roman Catholicism.
Regarding relations with other religions and belief systems, Pope Francis was consistent in his intellectual frame of reference, which brought his position in this field into line with that regarding Catholics as well as humanity as a whole. Concerning Islam and the Islamic World, he visited a large number of Arab countries, particularly when compared to his predecessors. He also interacted positively with many initiatives from the Islamic world calling for interfaith dialogue, particularly among the Abrahamic religions.
Among these activities was his acceptance of an invitation from Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, to participate in the 2017 International Peace Conference it was organising. His participation was also not limited to the conference, since it also extended to signing the “Document on Human Fraternity” issued in 2019, despite the challenges and difficulties surrounding this issue at that time.
He played a central role in reviving Christian-Muslim dialogue, making it meaningful and grounded in addressing real-life issues for humanity in the 21st century. He believed that the three Abrahamic faiths carry inherently the same messages and share the same principles regarding the dignity of human beings and the call to honour them as chosen by God. Despite their differing forms and expressions, all these religions strive to achieve justice, peace, and human brotherhood on Earth, since God does not accept injustice, discrimination, or racism between his people.
Pope Francis’ stance towards Islam and the Islamic world extended beyond his numerous visits and joint initiatives to reviving serious interfaith dialogue. It included taking decisive and firm positions against the persecution faced by some Muslim communities worldwide, especially in some predominantly Christian countries, particularly in Europe, where feelings of racism, often referred to as Islamophobia, have sometimes been manifested.
He opposed discriminatory laws in certain countries or regions that place burdens on Muslim minorities by imposing regulations on them that conflict with their understanding of their religious faith. He also opposed measures taken on various occasions restricting entry to citizens from some Muslim-majority countries into some predominantly Christian countries.
Pope Francis’ clear and outspoken stances in favour of numerous Arab and Islamic causes must not be forgotten, particularly his unwavering support for the just cause of the Palestinian people and his condemnation of the Israeli war on Gaza and the enormous material destruction and unprecedented human losses it is causing.
He repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of the war and destruction in Gaza. He also condemned the chaos unleashed by the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, which caused immense suffering to the Iraqi people and the loss of vast quantities of Iraq’s wealth and resources, including the looting of its cultural heritage. He stood by the people of Syria in the Civil War that affected the country for a decade after 2011, causing millions of Syrians to become refugees or migrants. He also supported efforts to rebuild Lebanon on a just and sustainable basis after years of Civil War, fragmentation, and external aggression.
The memory of the late Pope Francis will remain alive in us and future generations because his contributions and positions were always in support of what would achieve justice, reflect truth, and provide security and peace for humanity, particularly for the marginalised and the oppressed. This was true whether those concerned were Roman Catholics, Christians, or followers of other religions or beliefs, or those not professing any religion.
He extended his concern without distinction and with a deep understanding of the true spirit of Christianity, which calls for love, brotherhood, peace, and justice among all human beings.
The writer is a diplomat and commentator.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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