The legacy of Pope Francis will continue for a long time, he shaped the modern Catholic church and won hearts of people across different faiths
As the world hits pause and the Vatican prepares to lay Pope Francis to rest on Saturday (April 26th), millions of people across the world from different faiths will miss their “Father.” (He asked not to be called “Your Holiness,” but “Father.”)
A man who preferred to take public transport (bus, trains), loved Latin dance (Argentinian Tango), relished empanadas (meat-cheese pastry), and mingled with common people like one of their own.
Pope Francis challenged norms, opened the doors of the Catholic Church to those who were left standing for answers, and stood on the grounds of non-judgment for all.
The Global Light
In his twelve years as a pontiff, he became a moral compass not only for the world, but also for the 1.3 billion Catholics across the world. He cast himself as a compassionate leader— a servant more than a ruler; it was an image that he worked towards by washing the feet of refugees, prisoners, and women. His focus was consistent: to build a church that is ‘a church for the poor.’
“I still remember that day, when he asked the crowd to pray over him. It was such a warm and sentimental moment,” says Christina Fernades, a devotee, adding, “He made us feel like he was no different than us.”
Fearless Father Figure
Pope Francis lifted the “Pontifical Secret”’ that had long shrouded sexual abuse investigations in silence. He introduced new protocols which obliged bishops and clergy to report allegations. He convened a global summit in 2019 on the protection of minors, bringing Church leaders from around the world to confront the crisis face-to-face. “He did more than any Pope before him to listen, to apologize, and to act,” says Pastor Neeta Mohan.
In Bangladesh, he embraced Rohingya refugees, offering not only a shoulder to lean on but also raising his voice against the persecution they endured. He urged world leaders to recognize the “plight of migrants” and to act with compassion and responsibility .In 2015, he became the first pope to visit the Central African Republic, where violent conflicts had torn the country apart. He called for an end to the violence, declaring the nation a “fraternity of nations.”
His visit to Iraq in 2021, when he met Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the most influential Shiite clerics in the world, was a groundbreaking moment for interreligious understanding. Pope Francis carried a simple message: peace, dignity, and dialogue.
The Green Pope
In 2015, Pope Francis published Laudato Si’, the first papal encyclical devoted entirely to the environment. He called for the “bold cultural revolution” to tackle consumerism and pollution, linking environmental justice with economic inequality. He spoke not just to Catholics but to everyone, urging them to notice the climate crisis as a moral and spiritual emergency.
In the lead-up to COP26, he urged world leaders to act “with courage, honesty, and responsibility.” Under his guidance, the Vatican committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. He installed solar panels at the top of the Vatican buildings, reduced wasteful traditions (use of lavish papal garments), limited the use of the Vatican cars, reduced Vatican spending on decor and gifts, banned single-use plastics, and promoted recycling and sustainable food practices in the Vatican cafeterias. His vision was holistic: To care for the Earth was to care for the Soul!
Celebrating Inclusivity
While most of the Catholic doctrines stood firm on issues about the LGBTQ+ relationships, women’s ordination, divorce, pornography addictions, and masturbation, Pope Francis managed to change something about this situation: the tone. “Who am I to judge?’’ he said in 2013, when he was asked about gay priests. That simple response reverberated across the world, it signalled a radical shift in how the church would engage with LGBTQ+ people — not as people to be corrected, but as people to be loved. Angela Cardoza, nun and educator, Mumbai, says, “He reminded us that to be holy is to be human first. His kindness gave us courage to be kinder too.”
He met trans people, invited same sex couples to the Vatican, and expressed support for civil unions. He softened the heart of the church and the deep roots of tradition around divorce and remarriage, and appointed women to influential roles within the Vatican.
The People’s Pope
But beyond the faith and robes, Pope Francis will be remembered for the kind and loving person that he was. A Pope who made personal phone calls to grieving parents and lonely parishioners. Embraced lepers, visited prisons, and slipped out of the Vatican to hand out food to the homeless at night. He was a man who saw goodness in the hearts of people, not the riches in their hands. “He often made light-hearted jokes, whether it was about his simplicity or poking fun at Vatican bureaucracy. This side of his
personality helped him connect with people,” says Antoinette Appings, a devotee.
A Lasting Light
His humility was genuine. He refused to live in the papal palace. He carried a black briefcase like any ordinary worker. He rejected the white Vatican car, and always took the public transport. He lived in a modest guesthouse and treated others with respect. Some critics argued that he blurred the line of the Church and its teachings, but others believed that he was doing what Christ had asked all of us to do – love without judgement.
As the world says goodbye, his words, his warmth, his smile, and his love for people will always stay with us. Pope Francis reminded us that faith is not just about traditions, rituals, and rules, but it is about love, mercy and walking with Christ. That gentle light that he carried will be lit in the hearts of people. He may have worn the papal white, but he lived with the soul of a servant — and for that, the world will remember him.
