Deeply humble, gracious, approachable, compassionate about the plight of the poor, marginalised, migrants, refugees and victims of injustice. These are some of the qualities that Pope Francis, affectionately known as “the people's pope”, will be remembered for after his death from a stroke at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. Granted, some of his views drew criticism from conservatives within the church, but it was his down-to-earth approach and caring that will live on as his legacy.
Throughout his 12-year papacy, the pontiff shied away from the pomp, power and luxury often associated with the Catholic Church in the past. His mission after being elected pope on March 13 2013 was to usher in a new era of austerity. He frowned upon the idea of priests and nuns driving about in flashy cars. He was the driving force behind changes that saw women being brought into the Vatican and allowed Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples — a stance opposed by bishops from Sub-Saharan Africa.
But he was also widely regarded as a compassionate voice for Africa and travelled to South Sudan, the Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique and Madagascar. During this time, the number of Catholics increased on the continent.
On his visits to Africa, he spoke “passionately about peace, reconciliation, and social justice, highlighting the resilience of the African people notwithstanding the many adversities that they face as a people”, reported the Vatican News.”
Meeting with government, civil, and diplomatic authorities in the DRC, Pope Francis said in his address, “Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa; Africa is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.”
Sometimes the Pontiff would be literally the only one raising issues affecting the continent of Africa, such as the effects of climate change, economic inequality and political instability. In 2015 he undertook a dangerous journey to the Central African Republic, regarded at the time as the “biggest security risk of his papacy”, where he declined to wear a bulletproof vest or appear behind a shield on the Popemobile. There, he met the local Muslim community in the central mosque of Koudoukou in Bangui — part of the city regarded as a no-go area for a non-Muslim.
That year, he also visited the slums of Nairobi in Kenya and called on governments on the continent to grant the poor access to land, lodging and labour.
He reflected the concerns of people on the continent with his message against imperialism, colonialism, exploitation of the poor by the rich, global inequality, neoliberal capitalism and ecological injustice. “Pope Francis became a voice for Africa,” reported The Conversation.
He lived a simple life and was not afraid to speak truth to power. “These days, there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that's a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone.
“We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer,” he said.
It was those values of kindness, compassion and caring that each of us, regardless of religious belief, should carry forward today to help make an often cruel and uncaring world a better place.
For opinion and analysis consideration, email Opinions@timeslive.co.za
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