After making his last public appearance on Easter Sunday in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis died the next day at the age of 88. As head of the Catholic church, his appeal went far beyond those within his congregation. Many appreciated his views on the environment, his calls for ending poverty and inequality and for his compassionate approach to the papacy.
Here, people from around the world recall their memories of the pontiff and pay tribute ahead of the conclave to choose his successor.
‘His visit to refugees in Lesbos says everything about him’
I’m a lapsed Catholic and Francis was an inspiration to people like me. He was prepared to stand up to the conservative, unforgiving elements of the church and also to politicians. His clear love for all individuals, including the poorest, was inspiring. He clearly made mistakes because he was fallible like all humans. I think some progressives expected too much, taking into account the environment in which he was working. His visit to refugees in Lesbos says everything about him.
I feel I’ve lost someone close to me. I wish he could have lived much longer to deliver much more needed change, but we must appreciate everything he did and celebrate that. Sadly I think there will be external influences on many cardinals with voting rights, from the US and conservative-minded countries elsewhere, res...
[Short citation of 8% of the original article]