With the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the world has lost a truly unique and humble leader. Many had not expected much when the Argentinian and first Jesuit became Pope in 2013. But he surprised everyone—not with power or pomp, but with simplicity and love.
From the beginning, he broke tradition. He gave up many symbols of power. There were no red slippers, no grand cape, no gold trimmings, just a plain white cassock and his usual black shoes. He chose to live in a modest two-room guest house, instead of the grand 12-room apartment used by previous popes.
Even before he became Pope, as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he used public buses and avoided luxury. As Pope, he refused to ride in the heavily guarded popemobile. Instead, he walked among people, especially the poor and the broken. For him, they were not strangers; they were his brothers and sisters.
On Maundy Thursday, he would visit prisons, refugee camps, and homes for the disabled. There, he would kneel, wash people’s feet, dry them with a towel, and kiss them—just as Jesus did. He said that a true shepherd must get his hands dirty. Pope Francis often spoke with his actions more than words. He called showy holiness the “osteoporosis of the soul”—beautiful on the outside but empty within.
He took the name of Saint Francis of Assisi, the champion of the poor and of peace. Though the Pope was a Jesuit, known for discipline and intellect, he carried the heart of a Franciscan, known for his oath of poverty. In 2015, he released a papal letter urging the world to care for the Earth.
He strongly criticised greed, waste, and the destruction of nature. When US president Donald Trump called on him, he gave him a copy of this letter and later disagreed with his tough stance on migrants.
Pope Francis looked at people as Jesus would. When asked about homosexuals, he replied, “Who am I to judge?” His letter on family life showed kindness to the divorced and remarried, even suggesting they could be welcomed to communion.
Of course, he was not without critics. His efforts to deal with child abuse in the church were seen as slow and sometimes weak. Yet, he was brave when speaking out, whether calling for peace in Gaza or opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine. He had warm words for India and longed to visit.
Sadly, repeated delays from the government meant that the visit never happened. In Pope Francis, the world saw a rare leader—humble, courageous, and deeply human. His simplicity was his greatest strength.
