Preserve the flame of peace
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Pope Francis, who always spoke of humanity with the conviction that his life was meant for others, and whose final words were raised for the oppressed and the afflicted, has bid farewell to this world. On the eve of the end of his life, on Easter day, he raised his voice for those suffering in Gaza, argued for a ceasefire and peace, and stood for the poor, fulfilling his eventful mission with courage. Time will remember this great life as that of a messenger of peace who departed after completing his journey.
He was the first Pope, after 1272 years, to be elected from outside Europe, the first Pope from Latin America, and the Christian religious order of the Jesuits. He was also the first Pope to adopt the name Francis. The name, taken in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, who dedicated his life to the poor and suffering, was fully embodied by him while holding the highest position in the Church. Since the day he took office in 2013, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, consistently advocated for the rights of the injured, the oppressed, refugees, women, and sexual minorities. Another issue that Pope took up with ardour was the environment. His concern for the environment was rooted in his anxiety about the survival of all living beings on Earth. In this way, he showed compassion not only toward humans but also toward all creatures, and the light has now faded. Pope Francis was always on the side of peace, against war. It was during his stay in the hospital, struck with illness, that the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war occurred. He described the anniversary of the war as a painful and shameful time for all of humanity.
Pope Francis, who cooked his own meals and traveled using public transportation, became a great model of admirable simplicity. His broad vision and unique mindset often made him stand out. On issues such as the death penalty, homosexuality, abortion, and artificial contraception, he aligned himself with the reformists within the Church. In the ritual of foot washing on Holy Thursday before Easter, he created history by including migrants, prisoners, and non-Christians. At the same time of holding onto religious beliefs and rituals, he also took a leading role in interfaith dialogue. Pope Francis was the first Pope to visit Islamic countries like the UAE, Iraq, and Bahrain. Though there had been years of requests from Christian churches and secular societies for the Pope to visit India, the central government, led by the Sangh Parivar, unfortunately maintained a negative stance on the matter for a long time. Later, in 2021 and 2024, India officially invited him, and he accepted the invitation, but the visit did not materialize. When he took a stand against globalization and expressed empathy for the liberation struggles in Latin America, he was labeled 'the communist of the Vatican.' His response was, 'I am not a communist, but if they are the ones speaking truth, then that is right'. He never faced any inhibition in publicly expressing his views.
The world is moving toward new conflicts due to the unilateral actions of Donald Trump, who has returned to the presidency of the United States. Human tragedies, including in Gaza, continue with unprecedented intensity, and right-wing fascist groups are coming to power in various nations. In these trying times, the mediator of peace bids farewell. At a time when the world deeply longs for peace and humanity, comes the passing of Pope Francis, who stood for those very values. The appropriate tribute to be offered to him is to take up the mission of preserving the light of hope that Pope Francis ignited, without letting it perish.
