Today, the world lost a global religious leader and a voice for the marginalized and the forgotten. Pope Francis’ life and mission resonated deeply with that of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. We join the hundreds of millions who mourn his death with heavy hearts and gratitude for all of Pope Francis’ sacrifices.
Amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and the United States, Pope Francis’ message was always the same: people fleeing war and persecution should not be seen as a threat, but as individuals in need of compassion and protection. In this context, Pope Francis focused especially on the plight of Muslim refugees and made extensive efforts to reset Catholic-Muslim relations with an emphasis on interfaith dialogue and a strong opposition against rising Islamophobia.
Of particular poignance and relevance to us has been Pope Francis’ dedication to Palestinians and Palestinian Christians. During this ongoing genocide, Pope Francis called the Palestinian Christian community in Gaza every night, even while he was hospitalized. Every night, he bore witness to Gazans’ daily tragedies, consoled them, and joined them in prayer for an end to the death and destruction.
In his book Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Toward a Better World, Pope Francis called for an international investigation into the violence: “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.” In his final address, delivered the day before his passing, the Pope called again for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages, and aid to the starving people in Gaza.
Pope Francis’ life was an embodiment of Cura Personalis, the Jesuit principle of love and care for the whole person. This is a bedrock value of Georgetown University that we strive to uphold. In pursuit of this value and inspired by Pope Francis’ moral example, we seek to redouble our commitment to improving ecumenical relations while opposing all forms of bigotry and violence, especially the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Pope Francis, rest in peace.
*This statement reflects the views of the faculty of ACMCU and does not necessarily
reflect the position of the School of Foreign Service or Georgetown University*
