UNITED NATIONS, April 21, 2024 (WNP): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away earlier in the day at the Vatican at the age of 88, praising him as a “transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice.”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Pope Francis made history in 2013 when he became the first pontiff from the Americas to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout his papacy, he emerged as a global champion of social justice, compassion, and interfaith dialogue.
In a statement, Guterres mourned the Pope’s death, describing him as “a messenger of hope, humility and humanity” whose commitment to uplifting the marginalized resonated worldwide.
“He leaves behind a legacy of faith, service and compassion for all — especially those left on the margins of life or trapped by the horrors of conflict,” Guterres said.
The Secretary-General noted that Pope Francis worked across religious and cultural lines to foster understanding and unity. “He was a man of faith for all faiths — working with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to light a path forward,” Guterres added.
Highlighting the Pope’s close relationship with the United Nations, Guterres recalled their meetings and the pontiff’s historic address to the UN General Assembly in New York in 2015, where he spoke of the organization’s ideal of a “united human family.”
Guterres also lauded the Pope’s environmental leadership, citing his second encyclical Laudato Si, which played a key role in galvanizing global action towards the Paris Agreement on climate change. “Pope Francis understood that protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility that belongs to every person,” he said.
Quoting the pontiff, Guterres emphasized: “The future of humankind isn’t exclusively in the hands of politicians, of great leaders, of big companies…[it] is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognize the other as a ‘you’ and themselves as part of an ‘us.'”
Concluding his tribute, the UN chief said, “Our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions.”
Pope Francis is being remembered around the world for his steadfast advocacy for peace, dialogue, and the defense of the planet — a legacy that will endure far beyond his years.
