Pope Francis’ humanity and lessons to the world

Testimonies of the sacrificial lifestyle of Pope Francis who died on April 21 have posed huge challenges to mankind, especially religious and political leaders across the globe.

Francis, who was buried on April 26 according to rites of the Roman Catholic Church, was the 266th Catholic Pontiff.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he modeled his life after Francis of Assisi, a Catholic saint known for his humility and love for the poor.

Observers say the deceased Pope bequeathed numerous lessons about humanity.

Available information obtained from Vatican City website states, among other things, that Francis broke some rules shortly after his was elected on March 13, 2013 to drive home the simple life his reign as the head of the church would take.

“While being dressed up before the announcement and subsequent greeting and prayers before the people of God, he somehow surprised the Cardinals who elected him and the Bishops who were present.

“He rejected three things on his body as a dress code; the papal red customised shoes for the Popes and asked for his only black shoe he has been wearing as the Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina.

“He rejected the gold pectoral cross meant for the Popes alone and decided to go with old simple silver cross he used as an Archbishop.

“He rejected the ermine-trimmed red velvet Mozzetta which has been so customary to many Popes before him, calling it Royal.

“After greeting the crowd at St. Peter’s Basilica Square who gathered that night to herald the new Pope, he also refused to be taken back to his room with the Limousine made available that night for him,’’ the document revealed.

Francis was the first Pope to live outside the Apostolic Palace since 17th Century and the first Pope to be buried outside St. Peter’s Basilica since over 120 years.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over Pope Francis’ funeral mass on April 26, 2025 at Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City where the late Pope celebrated the Eucharist so many times and presided over great gatherings for the past 12 years.

Cardinal Re spoke on Francis’ exceptional character.

“We are gathered with sad hearts in prayer around the mortal remains of Pope Francis; yet, we are sustained by the certainty of faith, which assures us that human existence does not end in the tomb, but in the Father’s house, in a life of happiness that will know no end.’’

He said that in spite of his frailty and suffering towards the end, Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life.

“He followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, who loved his sheep to the point of giving his life for them.

“And he did so with strength and serenity, close to his flock, the Church of God, mindful of the words of Jesus quoted by the Apostle Paul: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive(Acts 20:35),’’’ he said.

Prof. Okwuosa, of the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka, weighed in on the deceased pontiff’s humanity.

He said that Francis did everything possible to help in alleviating the burdens of humanity in the church and outside of the church.

“The salient virtues that marked his papacy were his unwavering prioritisation of humility over power, his deep commitment to serving the marginalised, his tireless work to build bridges rather than destroy them and his profound compassion for all people.

“If our leaders can lead with this sense of purpose that they are servant leaders and instruments of mercy and love, human dignity will prevail everywhere,’’ Okwuosa said.

Dr Uche Jarlath-Opara, a Social Commentator, said that the late Pope travelled with profound dignity and confidence on paths less travelled.

“He was controversial no doubt, but the uniqueness of his controversies and liberalism endeared him to many.

“His simplicity very humbling, bringing the word of God to a level that makes it easier for all to connect even when it swims against the waves and current of conventional doctrinal and dogmatic dispositions.

“He made Papacy simple without depleting its honour, dignity and reverence; he took the cloak of the Gospel and Doctrine with KISSES (Keep It Short, Simple, Exact and Straight forward) devoid of the bourgeoning complexities and intractability that were associated with doctrinal interpretation in the church.

“From head to toe, by deeds and actions he was an extract of the life of Christ. He took a life of poverty amidst riches and wealth.

“He loved sinners not their sins; to the lesbians, the homosexual, the trans-genders, he showed compassion, recognising in them the image of God, while asking for Gods mercy love, forgiveness and praying for their repentance,’’ Opara, a Catholic faithful said.

A Hindu man, Vinod Sekhar, in his tribute to Francis and shared on the internet by Shalini Tuscano, captioned his eulogies thus: “The Loss of a Good Man: A Tribute to Pope Francis and the Power of Universal Faith.

“I only met Pope Francis once; it was brief; just a few moments in a crowded room filled with dignitaries and seekers, some there out of duty, others out of belief.

“I was neither Catholic nor there on some divine pilgrimage; I was just a man in need of a little hope; and somehow, in that fleeting encounter, I received it.

“It is hard to explain without sounding overly romantic, but when you are in the presence of someone truly good, not performing good, not ‘publicly moral’ or selectively kind, but genuinely, deeply, relentlessly good, something shifts in you.

“You feel lighter; you feel braver; you feel like humanity; for all its wounds and wickedness, it is still worth fighting for.

“That was the gift Francis gave me; and I imagine, from the tears I have seen today and the aching silences of millions across faiths, races and borders, that he gave that same gift to many,’’ Sekhar stated..

In another tribute, Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman, Muslim Public Affairs Centre, Nigeria, said Francis, who died at the age of 88, was “a remarkable religious icon’’.

Kamor said that the Pope, in his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, gave a message through an aide urging a ceasefire in Gaza and describing the humanitarian situation there as “deplorable”.

He said that Francis was a vocal critic of injustice and oppression.

“His consistent criticism of the Israeli war in Gaza highlighted the suffering of the Palestinian people and brought international attention to their plights; his leadership and advocacy for peace and justice will be deeply missed,’’ he said.

For Tony Okafor, an Awka-based Journalist, Francis’s most humble moment was in 2019 when he knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudanese leaders in the Vatican, pleading with them to make peace.

Okafor, who also corroborated litany of simplicity, humane and charitable accounts on Francis, said if leaders across the globe could emulate the good examples left by the late pontiff, the world would be a better place.

He regretted that that even religious leaders and political leaders no longer bothered about the welfare of the masses.

“I am stunned by the accounts given on the life and times of Francis; not that I am reading all these for the first time, but because his exemplary conducts are direct opposite of things we see amongst religious and political leaders today.

“Our leaders must emulate good conduct if the world must change for good,’’ he said.

By all accounts, the legacies left behind by Francis will continue in the memories of all–young or old, black or white, Christians, Muslims, Hindus or Pagans, rich or poor.