Mourning the Loss of Pope Francis, A Compassionate and Merciful Spiritual Leader

Interfaith Alliance mourns the loss of Pope Francis, a spiritual leader to over 1 billion Catholics around the world, who during his tenure in the papacy often demonstrated and stressed a commitment to mercy, compassion and interfaith relations. 

The organization sends its condolences to the many Catholic members of Interfaith Alliance and to all Catholics and many others around the globe who appreciated Pope Francis’ witness as a follower of Jesus. Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement on Pope Francis’ legacy:

“In an era where far too many public figures and leaders have turned their back on fundamental Christian precepts of mercy, compassion and care for all people as children of God, Pope Francis presented a stark and important contrast, famously saying:  ‘A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.’ His papacy was consistently defined by his expansive understanding of justice, inclusion and empathy.

“Pope Francis was a moral leader who emphasized the points of shared humanity that should bring us together, rather than the many divisions that can and do tear us apart. He consistently championed greater interfaith relations between Christians, Jews, Muslims and other faiths, and abhorred violence or persecution carried out in the name of Christianity or any other faith. On issues like the climate crisis and inequality, he showed real attention and concern for poor and working people , for migrants and displaced people, and for the Global South – angering some conservative elites who continue to object to anyone who shows care for the future of our planet or the majority of the people on it. 

“For LGBTQ Catholics, he made important gestures in the direction of greater tolerance and understanding. He notably said ‘If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?’ The Vatican under his leadership allowed transgender people to be baptized and serve as godparents, and allowed priests to offer blessings of same-sex couples. While there is still a very long way to go for the Catholic Church to truly recognize LGBTQ equality, the measures sanctioned by Pope Francis brought meaningful progress toward that goal. 

“Pope Francis was far from perfect and there is much that can and will be said and written about the shortcomings and missed opportunities of his papacy. Yet he nonetheless served as a striking and inspiring example of how religion can serve as a powerful mobilizing force for those who believe in social justice, equality and embracing all people with love and respect. We can only hope and pray that more of our global leaders will learn from the model that he has set.”

In a new column, Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, Vice President of Programs and Strategy at  Interfaith Alliance, has reflected specifically on Pope Francis’ legacy and meaning for LGBTQ+ Christians. Interfaith Alliance’s “State of Belief” podcast has also released a new interview on Pope Francis with Father James Martin, who knew Pope Francis personally and has long been a bold, thoughtful voice for inclusion in the Church. 

Rev. Raushenbush is available for interviews to further discuss Pope Francis’ legacy on interfaith relations, LGBTQ+ rights and other important issues. 

‍

#####

‍

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.

‍