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Pope Francis passed away shortly after meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. This event was met with controversial reactions, including a statement from Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who appeared to interpret the pope’s death as an indication of “evil” being vanquished.
Despite having clashed with the Trump administration, Pope Francis was not a liberal figure within the church. He refrained from outright condemnation of homosexuality; however, he openly criticized the progressive changes initiated by the Catholic Church in Germany, which in 2023 allowed church employees to maintain their positions even if they entered same-sex relationships or remarried post-divorce. On issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and LGBTQ+ rights, he often disappointed those who had high expectations for progressive reform.
Criticism of the pope also stemmed from his views on the conflict in Ukraine, where he seemed to align with a Russian perspective on the war, suggesting it was ignited by “NATO barking at the gates of Russia.” However, his stance came with a genuine concern for Ukrainian suffering. Through the efforts of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Francis engaged in mediation efforts over humanitarian issues, particularly in response to the alleged abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces, which has led to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for Vladimir Putin. Nevertheless, his political framing of the conflict—placing blame on NATO and urging Ukraine to surrender—raised significant concerns.
Pope Francis, hailing from Argentina, reinforced his status as a key voice from the global south. He was not only the first pope from Latin America but also the first non-European leader of the Catholic Church since the eighth century. His skepticism towards U.S. foreign policy, his nuanced sympathies regarding Russia, and his critique of rampant consumerism and globalization highlight this perspective.
Beyond being a representative of the global south, Francis was also a principled advocate for human rights, especially in the context of the Middle East and Gaza. His unwavering support for international law and solidarity with Palestinians distinguished his papacy. Remarkably, even as his health declined, he consistently reached out to the only Catholic parish in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Francis’s commitment to interfaith dialogue was another significant aspect of his leadership, as he sought to improve Christian-Muslim relations strained under the papacy of Benedict XVI. He engaged actively with Sunni leaders and made a historic visit to the Gulf, culminating in the signing of a document on human fraternity. His outreach also extended to Shia communities, highlighted by his meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Iraq in 2021.
Francis’s papacy brought attention to issues such as health care, poverty, climate change, and migration, championing these causes with a fervor that resonated with many in the global south. In his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, he positioned environmental sustainability alongside social justice within the Church’s teachings. His poignant address during the empty St. Peter’s Square amid the COVID-19 pandemic left a lasting impact on millions. As the son of migrants, he vigorously criticized the harsh migration policies of Europe, a stance that was reinforced during his initial papal visit to Lampedusa, an island symbolic of migrant tragedy.
Recently, Francis condemned the moral injustices of mass deportations, particularly criticizing Vance’s interpretation of the Catholic principle of ordo amoris. Vance argued for prioritizing kindness toward one’s family and countrymen under this principle, which Francis viewed as a distortion of a fundamental value of compassion.
Francis consistently highlighted issues pertinent to marginalized communities. His principled stand starkly contrasted with many leaders from both the global north and south, who often waver between self-interest and assertive denunciation of human rights violations. While nations from the global south frequently express frustration over the hypocrisy of the global north, they too can fall prey to opportunism when it comes to their allies’ transgressions.
In contrast, Pope Francis maintained a commitment to solidarity with those in the global south, exemplifying the essence of the Bandung Principles—a spirit that is increasingly rare in current geopolitical dynamics.
As the cardinals prepare to convene in the coming weeks to select a new pope, it is worth noting that the desire for an apocalyptic agenda associated with far-right ideologies may not prevail. Under Francis, the Catholic Church has undergone significant transformation, with several potential candidates for the papacy hailing from or aligning with the global south and reflecting principles he championed. Upholding the legacy of Pope Francis as a steadfast advocate for the global south will present challenges, but such a voice is needed now more than ever.
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www.theguardian.com