By Bishop Habila Daboh
The death of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, has marked the end of an extraordinary era, a pontificate deeply marked by an overflowing of mercy, humility, and a tireless option for the poor. From the moment he stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 13, 2013, and bowed his head in humility to ask the people to pray for him, Bergoglio immediately signalled a different kind of papacy; one grounded not in lust for power, but in total service; not in grandeur, but in tenderness.
By choosing the name Francis, the first Pope ever to do so, he set the tone for his entire pontificate. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the man known to be a saint of poverty, simplicity, and peace, the Holy Father made clear that his mission would be to shepherd a Church that is poor and meant for the poorest of the poor. He instinctively reminded the world that the Gospel demands closeness to the vulnerable and the forgotten as it was originally meant historically.
Pope Francis’ travels show that he did not really travel to the attractive centres of worldly power, but to the edges of human suffering. His journeys were pastorally centred, and they deliberately and consistently carried a message of solidarity with the marginalized.
Lampedusa (2013): In his first trip outside Rome as Pope, Francis visited the island of Lampedusa, a place known to be a symbol of the migration crisis in Europe. There, he condemned in clear terms the “globalization of indifference” and prayed for the thousands of migrants who had perished in search of a better life. “Who is responsible for the blood of these brothers and sisters?” he asked with prophetic urgency and a lovely concern.
The Philippines (2015): Visiting the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban, he told them through tears, “I am here to be with you. A little bit late, I have to say, but I am here.” He stood with the poor who had lost everything and reminded them that the heart of God beats especially for those who suffer.
Bangladesh (2017): During his visit to Bangladesh, Pope Francis met with Rohingya Muslim refugees who had fled ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. He listened to their stories, held their hands, and spoke words of comfort and truth: “In the name of all those who persecuted you, who hurt you, I ask forgiveness.”
Madagascar and Mozambique (2019): In these penurious African nations, Francis celebrated the tenacity of those who live with joy amidst great hardship. He challenged political leaders to pursue justice and to root out corruption that robs the poor of hope.
Iraq (2021): Despite serious security concerns, the pope made a historic journey to Iraq, becoming the first pontiff to do so. There, he met with Christian minorities devastated by war and persecution, as well as with Muslim leaders, promoting peace and fraternity in a land scarred by division.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis used every opportunity to speak out on behalf of the poor, the migrants, the elderly, the unborn, and the earth, what he called “our common home.” On the 21st September 2024, I had the opportunity to speak to him for five minutes at the Vatican. I requested his prayers for Nigeria, and he responded by saying that he is praying for Nigeria because Nigeria needs a lot of prayers.
In Evangelii Gaudium (2013), he declared: “Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor” (§187).
And in his landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015), he taught the world that care for the environment is inseparable from care for the poor. “The cries of the earth and the cries of the poor,” he insisted, “are one and the same.”
In Fratelli Tutti (2020), he extended his vision further, calling for a global fraternity in which walls are replaced with bridges. He warned of the dangers of consumerism and nationalism that neglect the weakest members of society.
Whether washing the feet of prisoners and refugees on Holy Thursday, embracing those with disabilities, or establishing the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis made mercy palpable. He opened the Holy Door of Mercy during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year (2015–2016), not just in Rome, but in prisons, hospitals, refugee camps, and war zones, encouraging bishops around the world to do the same.
Pope Francis consistently called priests to be “shepherds who smell like the sheep,” urging them to live close to their people, to share in their joys and sorrows, and to serve with compassion and humility. He reminded the clergy that ministry is not exercised from a distance, but through genuine accompaniment. To bishops, he often repeated that “the poor are the treasure of the Church,” challenging them to place the marginalized at the heart of pastoral priorities. For him, the credibility of the Church depended not on power or prestige, but on its closeness to the least and the lost. His vision was clear: a Church that goes out, serves, and loves.
Pope Francis will be remembered as a man who never got tired of preaching about God’s mercy. He believed in a Church that “goes forth,” that takes risks, and that accompanies people in their struggles. He stood as a moral compass in a world too often guided by profit and prestige.
As the Church now mourns his passing, she also gives thanks for his example. Pope Francis walked with the wounded, challenged the powerful, and reminded us that the face of Christ is most clearly seen in the face of the poor.
May the soul of Pope Francis rest in peace, Amen.
