Pope Leo XIV has paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, on the first anniversary of his death, reflecting on Francis’s powerful message of divine mercy and his unwavering commitment to the world’s impoverished.
Speaking to reporters in Italian aboard the papal plane, as it travelled from Angola to Equatorial Guinea on the final leg of his four-nation African tour, the American pontiff stated: “We thank the Lord for the great gift of the life of Francis, to the church and the world.”
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday last year, aged 88, following a stroke. He had been recuperating at the Vatican after a five-week hospital stay for double pneumonia, managing to deliver a final Easter greeting to crowds during a popemobile procession through St Peter’s Square.
In his tribute, Leo recalled with precision some of Francis’ most memorable homilies and messages, saying he “gave so much to the church with his life, with his witness, with his word and with his gestures.” He cited Francis’ preaching promoting human fraternity and “authentic respect” among all people, as well as a special Holy Year he called in 2015 to emphasise God’s mercy and forgiveness.
The anniversary was being marked with commemorations in Rome, including the release of commemorative books and a Mass on Tuesday evening at St Mary Major basilica, where Francis’ tomb is located. Among the recollections, a book by Salvatore Cernuzio entitled “Padre” details the private side of their relationship, including Francis’s assessment of the then-Cardinal Robert Prevost as “a saint” — a remark that adds weight to the hypothesis that Francis saw in Prevost a possible successor.
Leo concluded: “Let us pray that he is still enjoying the mercy of the Lord.”
