Global Tributes Pour In as Pope Francis Leaves Legacy of Humility, Compassion
Tributes continue to pour in for Pope Francis, who died on April 21 and was buried on April 26 in line with Roman Catholic rites. His death marks the end of an era defined by humility, simplicity, and radical compassion that transcended religious and political boundaries.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 266th Catholic Pontiff lived and led in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi, embracing a lifestyle grounded in service to the poor, peace-building, and moral courage. Elected on March 13, 2013, he immediately set the tone for a papacy unlike any other.
According to the Vatican, Francis broke several traditions upon his election. He rejected the papal red shoes, opting instead for his worn black pair from Argentina. He kept his silver cross rather than adopting the customary gold one and declined the royal red velvet cape worn by his predecessors. That same night, he also refused a limousine ride, choosing to return in a modest vehicle.
Francis became the first pope since the 17th century to reside outside the Apostolic Palace and the first in over 120 years to be buried outside St. Peter’s Basilica. His funeral, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re at Saint Peter’s Square, drew thousands who gathered to honour a man they described as deeply human and profoundly spiritual.
“We are sustained by the certainty of faith,” Cardinal Re said. “Francis walked a path of self-giving to the very end, like the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his flock.”
Academics and observers alike described his legacy as one of radical humility. Prof. Okwuosa of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, noted the Pope’s dedication to the marginalised and his emphasis on servant leadership.
“He built bridges, not walls,” Okwuosa said. “If leaders embraced his example, the dignity of humanity would thrive.”
Social commentator Dr. Uche Jarlath-Opara highlighted Francis’s controversial yet unifying nature. “He simplified papal tradition without diminishing its reverence. He made the Gospel accessible, choosing love and mercy over doctrinal rigidity.”
Opara praised the Pope’s compassion toward marginalised communities, including LGBTQ individuals, noting, “He loved sinners, not their sins, recognising the image of God in everyone.”
Tributes also came from non-Christian faiths. Hindu businessman Vinod Sekhar described his brief encounter with the Pope as life-changing: “In that moment, I felt hope. He wasn’t just good—he was relentlessly good.”
Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre in Nigeria, called Francis “a remarkable religious icon.” He cited the Pope’s final Easter message urging a Gaza ceasefire as emblematic of his unwavering commitment to peace and justice.
Journalist Tony Okafor recalled what he called Francis’s most powerful act of humility—kneeling to kiss the feet of South Sudanese leaders in 2019 to plead for peace.
“His life was a mirror reflecting what leadership should look like,” Okafor said. “Our world desperately needs more leaders like him.”
As the world mourns, people across religions, continents, and social divides remember Francis not just as a pope, but as a symbol of what humanity could be when driven by love, humility, and justice.
