.Pope Francis, the reform-minded Roman Catholic leader whose papacy marked a number of firsts, has died at 88 the Vatican announced on Easter Monday.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, said in a statement. The pontiff had been diminished by a series of health issues in recent years and was using a wheelchair for some of his recent public appearances. In February 2025, he was hospitalized with severe bronchitis and pneumonia in both lungs.
While I have detached from religion decades ago I still appreciate what it means to those who believe. Pope Francis death today is sad news amd it’s incredibly symbolic that the Pope passed away just the day after Easter, the holiest celebration of resurrection and new life.
Francis Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, and was the first Jesuit pope and the first native of Latin America, whose liberal views marked a noticeable break from more conservative predecessors
Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "deeply saddened" to hear of the death of Pope Francis .
The Prime Minister said he joins "millions around the world in grieving the death of His Holiness Pope Francis".
He commended the Pope's leadership in a "complex and challenging time for the world and the church", describing it as "often courageous" yet always coming "from a place of deep humility". He said: "His tireless efforts to promote a world that is fairer for all will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I share my sincerest condolences to the whole Catholic Church."
Starmer said Pope Francis was a "pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten", adding: "He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost the faith-fuelled hope of a better world."
Starmer continued: "That hope was at the heart of his papacy. His determination to visibly live out his faith inspired people across the world to see afresh the church's teachings of mercy and charity. With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs."
The hypocrisy of Starmer offering this condolences re Pope Francis is astounding, releasing crocodile tears. A man who proudly declared his atheism suddenly claims to be “grieving” alongside “millions around the world” for a pontiff whose spiritual leadership he doesn’t even subscribe to. Pope Francis stood for the exact opposite of everything Starmer represents.
I am not religious but Pope Francis's legacy is one of peace and the futility of war, a man steantsdfast in his support for Palestinians.A truly global leader who spoke to and for the dispossessed, and those long ignored by the Catholic Church.with humility and courage .From a completely irreligious standpoint, he brought a humanity and empathy to the papacy that was much needed.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants, his election in March 2013 was historic on many fronts: he became the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit, and the first to take the name Francis, a deliberate homage to St Francis of Assisi, the saint of humility, peace, and care for the poor. His choice of name was an early signal of the kind of papacy he intended to lead: stripped-back, compassionate, and radical in tone.
He spent his papacy championing the downtrodden. Whether it was washing the feet of Muslim refugees, standing in solidarity with victims of clerical abuse, or urging the world to confront environmental and economic injustice, Francis embodied the Gospel’s call to compassion.
Pope Francis was unafraid to wade into politics, publicly feuding with United States President Donald Trump over immigration and rebuking U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, over apparently instrumentalizing a theological point for migration policy.
He made climate a moral issue. “The Earth… looks more and more like an immense pile of filth.” Not metaphor. A wake-up call. He framed pollution as sin— and Earth care as sacred.
He ripped economic injustice to shreds. “Markets shape destinies instead of serving needs.” He didn’t just defend the poor. He exposed the system.
A pontiff who broke tradition and described Israel as a terrorist entity and called for a ceasefire right up to his dying day. He had courage,compassion and was thoughtful and generous.
His final message: a call for a Gaza ceasefire. “This is cruelty. This is not war,” he said after Israel killed 7 children in Jabalia.
Pope Francis made nightly calls to Christians trapped tim Gaza. during Israel's genocidal campaign. He lamented the “death and destruction” taking place and called Gaza’s suffering “a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.” Even prior to this, he called it what it is — a slaughter, a terror, a betrayal of humanity. He spoke for the children bombed,the families destroyed and for the people of Palestine.
As recently as January 2025, he called the situation in the Gaza Strip “very serious and shameful,” saying in remarks delivered by an aide: “We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians.”
Humanity has lost a friend in the passing of Pope Francis,his death is terrible for the world's most marginal people. I can't imagine the Catholic church allowing another Pope like this again, not for a long time.
He was unique,,truly principled man of the people whose kindness and humanity transcended his faith. He stood up for the weakest against the people who tried to oppress them. and promoted a world that was fairer.
In direct contrast Starmer is an unlikable, dour, duplicitous, thin-skinned, po-faced, sanctimonious, morally void, nauseating hypocrite, devoid of empathy or compassion, the antithesis of fairer. Who has stated Israel had the right to cut power and water in Palestine.Who continues to sell arms and give intelligence to a country committing a genocide. Who is now causing poverty, to the elderly, sick and disabled, through welfare cuts, Who has torn all humanitarian thought and common decency from the Labour Party .All his words spew with insincerity.
The Pope was everything Starmer is not. Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May you rot in hell Keir Starmer. Much love and solidarity to all opposing genocide.❤️🙏🏻
No comments:
Post a Comment