I don’t think anyone was indifferent to the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday morning.
The Pontiff, who came “from the end of the world”, had left the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on Resurrection Sunday with expectations that he was recovering, although the signs were not very encouraging.
His tenacity, however, was demonstrated in the messages he had left a few days earlier during the Way of the Cross in the Colosseum in Rome, which were the summary of his Pontificate: “We have built a world that works like this: a world of calculations and algorithms, of cold logic and ruthless interests. The law of your house, Lord, the divine economy is something else”. “God’s economy does not kill, discard, or crush. It is humble, faithful to the earth. God’s way proposes “the way of the beatitudes. It does not destroy, but cultivates, repairs, and safeguards”.
Francis, the Pope of the Synodal Church, opposed to clericalism (“it is a plague in the Church”), promoter of the Holy Year of the Jubilee of Hope, the Renewal of the Roman Curia, the opening of the Church to “All, all, all”, attentive to the voice and problems of the human peripheries, of migrants and displaced people, a tireless fighter for Peace and Mercy towards all, challenged those who profess a “sterile religiosity” to change course: “You came to change the world: and for us that means changing direction. Let the hope of Easter spring up in our lives and in the world!” he said, before leaving for the Father, in the form of a spiritual testament.
It is impossible, in this simple chronicle, to summarize all of his thought, expressed in his encyclicals, letters and messages, whose contents reveal innovative responses of a moral, ethical and theological nature, always based on biblical, patristic foundations and even the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council itself, which for a long time was deliberately (?) forgotten by dominant conservative currents. These ecclesiastical bangs made school during the last pontificates and made it difficult for the late Pope to renew the Curia, as he said in his book “Hope”.
However, the four Portuguese cardinals are convinced that the course set by Francis will continue under his successor.
The problems of today’s world are those that Francis has put on the agenda of his concerns, the main ones being Peace, Justice, and the protection of our Common Home.
It’s interesting to analyze the messages from various national and foreign personalities about the Argentine Pope’s actions. All of them emphasize Francis’ actions in favor of peace, justice, human rights, and closeness to the most disadvantaged.
-Francisco was an extraordinary Pope, who left a unique legacy of humanism, empathy, compassion, and closeness to people (Luís Montenegro, 1st Minister);

  • His pontificate was for the Church and the world “a sign of fraternity, peace, and mercy.” (Aguiar Branco, President of the Portuguese Parliament);
    -Pope Francis was a courageous voice in defense of social justice, human dignity, and peace” (Pedro Nuno Santos, leader of the PS);
  • He has marked the Church, Catholic,s and other Christians at this stage in human history with a great closeness to the causes of peace, the defense of economic and social rights, and justice for those excluded from this society (PCP);
  • He made an option for the poor and for the care of the Earth, our common home. Believers or non-believers, Francis gave hope to everyone (Mariana Mortágua, BE);
    -The example of faith, the sense of justice, the incessant fight against inequality, and the affirmation of peace as the only way will remain forever (Nuno Melo, CDS);
  • Francis brought “joy and hope to the poorest”, as well as uniting people not only among themselves, but also with nature. (Emmanuel Macron, President of France);
    -“The people’s Pope will be remembered for his love of life, hope for peace, and compassion for equality and social justice”. (Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament);
  • Francis inspired millions of people with his “humility and sincere love for the less fortunate”. The Pope’s legacy will continue to guide us all towards a just, peaceful, and compassionate world. (Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission);
    -“Messenger of hope, humility and humanity” and a “transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice”. (António Guterres, UN Secretary General);
    -“Friend of the Palestinian people and their rights”. (Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority);
  • “As taught in the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has tirelessly sought to bring love where there was hatred. Unity where there was discord. And the understanding that we are all equal, living in the same house, our planet, which urgently needs our care.” (Lula da Silva, President of Brazil);
    Symptomatic was Donald Trump’s reaction: “He asked God to bless the Pope and all those who loved him”.
    More expressive was the message from playwright Tiago Rodrigues: “Even an atheist like me felt like praying. He defended the poor, immigrants and minorities.”
    The feeling is that politicians and government officials, whose job it is to look after the common good and promote human rights, take note of the Pope’s actions and the values that underlie them, but act for different purposes, for restricted groups. Hence, the appeal made by Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon: “Francis was a Pope from whom politicians should learn, they should be inspired by his moderation in opening his arms to all those around him, but above all, taking care of the most vulnerable.”
    Let’s hope that Francis’ legacy endures, as Ursula von der Leyen says, and that institutions work towards a just, peaceful, and compassionate world.
    1 Cfrhttps://rr.pt/noticia/religiao/2025/04/21
  • José Gabriel Ávila*

*Journalist c.p.239 A
http://escritemdia.blogspot.com

José Gabreil Ávila is a retired journalist with many years of experience at RTP-Açores-the regional public television service. He now maintains a very active blog and writes for several Azorean newspapers.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from various leading thinkers and writers in the Azores, giving the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores a sense of the significant opinions on some of the archipelago’s issues.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL).