Pope Francis died

May Pope Francis rest in eternal peace 🙏

Amazed that he survived so long with one lung . I was raised a strict Catholic and left the church . I did think this Pope tried his best to reform the church . I hope the conservatives don’t undermine his policies .

I thought that the Pope was improving ,but obviously much weakened .
It is very sad news .
He was a modest man and a gentle reformer.
May he rest in peace 🙏.

After watching the account of his life on BBC news last night I felt sad that you can be pope and spend your whole papal reign advocating for the poor, practising what you preach, and it makes no difference at all….

I'm 100% Atheist so I can't say on a religious point but as Jorge Mario Bergoglio he always looked and sounded like a really nice man with a wacky sense of humour.

May he RIP, up there with his beloved God.

winterwhite

After watching the account of his life on BBC news last night I felt sad that you can be pope and spend your whole papal reign advocating for the poor, practising what you preach, and it makes no difference at all….

It was a good programme last night.
I think it makes a difference that he advocated for the poor. More difference than if I advocated that, but how much difference it will make, who knows?

Another good man gone. RIP.

I hope it shifts Vance a little.
🙏
But fear it will not.

He was a very good person with no airs and graces. There for the people until the day before he died, like our late Queen Elizabeth. I'm not religious or a monarchist but I do admire these people's devotion to duty. RIP

And such a pity that Liz Truss was the last person to whom the Queen spoke.

I am not a Catholic either but feel sad that he must have cared so much for his faith and duties that he worked practically right to the last moment and on Easter Monday too. He had been so ill but he just carried on. He must have been an amazing spirit.

They said he was a pope for the poor but considering the phenomenal wealth of the Catholic church he didn't spend it on many of them!

So amazing to see Pope Francis on Sunday afternoon attending the Easter service he must have saved every last ounce of strength to do that for the people he loved. Pope Francis was loved by millions of people thoughts are now with him while he rests in peace and I for one shall be sharing in the service for his funeral on Saturday morning. Bless you now and peace to you on the return to your heavenly father now your earthly work is complete.

Aveline

The Catholic church is sitting on far more wealth than King Charles.

Not perhaps quite the time or place for that remark.

However, as it has been made, I shall take the liberty of pointing out that a lot of the wealth of the Church is tied up in buildings of historic value that cannot just be sold or demolished because they are national treasures of the countries they are in. These all have to be kept in good repair, heated in cold countries during autumn, winter and spring, and kept cool in hot countries. This all takes some of the wealth the Church "is sitting on".

Nuns, monks and priests give up all personal possessions on entering the religious life and have to be fed, clothed, housed and provide d with whatever their superiors deem is necessary for them to work for the church (not the organisation, but US - the people who make up the Body of Christ on earth, during their working life. In their old age, or in ill health, they are looked after by the Church - this costs a lot of money ,too.

The Church also employs lay men and women who receive salaries and still runs orphanages, schools and homes for the destitute and the elderly and old, as well as trying to improve the lives of the many millions of poverty stricken all over the world by handing out food and clothing, running medical clinics, providing clean drinking water, etc. etc. etc.

None of this can be done without money.

Please take this into account when you remark that the Catholic Church, or indeed any other is "sitting on enormous wealth".

This atheist loved and respected Papa Francesco. The man who told Donald Trump it was better to build bridges than walls.

I am very pleased that I watched Conclave recently. It gave a fascinating insight into the closely guarded tradition of mourning the Pope and the process of electing the next one.

AuntieE Thank you for pointing that out.

He was such a good Pope and a good man.

Whilst I’m of no particular faith these day I know that many catholics will be deeply saddened at pope Francis death .
I do feel though that history will judge him kindly . He came across as a humble but kind man who strove to make amends for the past .

Won’t mourn people who lead religious sects. All of them are the reason this world is so messed up. Kiddy fiddlers, war mongers and people dividers all. This is 2025 yet people believe their “religion” allows them to feel better than others, believe in a God! Seriously I’d lock anyone up believing their god is the god.

Thank you * AuntieE* the thought of Notre-Dame put up for sale !

AuntieE

Thank you

We mourn the death of a human being whatever his status. Better lock all of us Christians up and throw away the key.

He lived by and practised his beliefs, and his choice of where his funeral should be and the simplicity he wants, showed how deeply he felt that all people matter. As a noncatholic I respected him and thought that he did a great service to the catholic church, especially that it was for the world not just europe. May they be guided to find another pope who will carry on the good works of Francis.

Mooney59

Won’t mourn people who lead religious sects. All of them are the reason this world is so messed up. Kiddy fiddlers, war mongers and people dividers all. This is 2025 yet people believe their “religion” allows them to feel better than others, believe in a God! Seriously I’d lock anyone up believing their god is the god.

The Catholic church isn't a religious sect. It has been spreading the Good news for humanity for 2000 years and has over 1 billion practising members around the world, many more who consider themselves nominal members.

That doesn't include other Christian (Protestant) believers.

A sect is something easy to get into but very difficult to leave.
The Catholic Church is the opposite- very hard to get in but oh so easy to leave.

You don't have to be religious to be a kiddy fiddler, as you put it, or a war monger either (though there are plenty who use religion falsely for their own ends). I don't know what you mean by people dividers either...you don't have to be religious to insult people.

Volunteer77

They said he was a pope for the poor but considering the phenomenal wealth of the Catholic church he didn't spend it on many of them!

You know this how. How long does this wealth last if divided amongst the poor of the world. It would be gone in the blink of an eye when doled out by corrupt officials in whatever country it is sent to. Very naive to think otherwise I feel.