By Rebecca Ekpe
Christians believe that the world is full of difficulties, however, faith helps the people of God to remain strong and navigate adversities during difficult times. Through the power of faith, Pope Francis impacted lives, breaking barriers and building bridges to promote a safer and secure place on earth. Many have touted Pope Francis as a transformative figure in the Catholic Church and globally, emphasizing joy, compassion, and spiritual growth. Now, how much impact did Pope Francis have on Christianity?
Rebecca Ekpe has been finding out more.
Peaceful, Inclusive, Humane, Compassionate, these are some of the descriptions synonymous with Pope Francis. The Pope would be remembered for tenets of joy and Compassion. Pope Francis stresses that joy is fundamental to Christianity. He epitomizes tenderness, closeness, and compassion in relationships.
On Vocation and Discipleship, the Pope encourages people to reflect on their vocation and relationship with God, highlighting the importance of listening to God’s call and living a life of discipleship.
Pope Francis initiated a number of reforms within the Catholic Church, promoting a more inclusive and merciful approach to faith.
The 266th Pontiff of the Catholic Church contributed to the promotion of Interfaith Dialogues, fostering greater understanding and cooperation between different religious communities. Clearly, Pope Francis had a profound impact on the World. No wonder his death united people of different colors who spoke different languages across the world, including Politicians, heavily divided by ideologies.
Father Elvis did not mince words about the Pope. For him, Pope Francis has set the bar very high when it comes to service and reaching out to people.
”About Pope Francis, I think he has lived it to the call, and this has really caught the attention of the whole world, the kind of leadership he has lived is a challenge to humanity that leadership is not about being there but going there to serve the people,” Father Elvis espoused.
Social Cohesion was a priority to Pope Francis. He spoke against capitalism, highlighting pressing social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, emphasizing the need for collective action and responsibility.
For his part, Father Prince from the Archdiocese of Accra, Ghana, spoke of how he was impacted by Pope Francis.
”I remember his simplicity and the fact that he always emphasize the needs to be there for the poor so many times you realize that he was visiting prisons, which underscores the gospel we reflect on daily, like Jesus said in Matthew 25 that, visit those in prison, be there for the needy so I think the Pope lived out the gospel message more pragmatic way that we all can learn from it’ ‘and we are here to celebrate his resurrection, which we believe,, as Christians and if you live a good life, people would remember you”, according to Father Prince..
Pope Francis was one who inspired spiritual renewal through his teachings and by example, prompting many to deepen their faith and live a more authentic Christian life.
Father Genus January from Ghana, who was part of a media team deployed to St Peter’s Square during Pope Francis’s Funeral Mass, spoke highly of the Pontiff. He explained how he has also been greatly impacted by his funeral and the gathering of people, and most importantly, wished the Pope a safe journey back to his maker.
”We wish the Pope a very safe and beautiful journey to heaven, and when the Pope gets to heaven, we want him to remember us in prayers,” he said in an interview at the Vatican.
Father Joseph said he had been in the Vatican for 20 years, and for him, Pope Francis was one of a kind, with unparalleled humility and humanity.
”For me, I fell in love with the pope when he called on the Church to go out onto the street and to minister to the poor and the weak. This is the message Christ left us that we should think about the vulnerable, and for me, I have kept this in my heart in whatever I do, especially in my ministry. Like Jesus said, those who took care of the poor, those who were hungry, those who were thirsty, those who were sick, those who were in prison would not be abandoned on the last day”,
Such was the testimony of those who converged from far and near on St Peter’s Square, Vatican City to bid the Pope farewell.
In prayers for Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Ghanaians are hopeful that Cardinal Peter Kwadwo Appiah Turkson would be called by God at the Conclave to succeed Pope Francis.
Come what may, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17,1936, and died, April 21, 2025, would be remembered for generations as one who valued peace over conflict, and exemplified simplicity and humility.
Indeed, a shining beacon of faith!
