Pope Francis died yesterday, at the age of 88, according to Vatican. The first Pope from the Americas. We send our deepest condolences to the entire Catholic community in Nigeria, and the whole Christian community affected by the loss of this remarkable religious icon. Pope Francis led the Catholic Church since 2013.
In his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, he gave a message through an aide urging a ceasefire in Gaza and describing the humanitarian situation as “deplorable”.
Pope Francis was a vocal critic of injustice and oppression. His consistent criticism of the Israeli war in Gaza highlighted the suffering of the Palestinian people and brought international attention to their plight. His leadership and advocacy for peace and justice will be deeply missed.
In December 2024, after an Israeli strike on Jabalia killed seven children, he said: “This is cruelty, this is not war.” The Pope’s legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of religious leaders and icons to stand up for human rights and dignity of all peoples.
May Pope Francis’s legacy inspire us to work towards a more just and peaceful world.
Disu Kamor
Executive Chairman
Muslim Public Affairs Centre, Nigeria.
