a prophetic voice for the peripheries of our world
CIDSE statement
Brussels, 22 April 2025
It is with deep sadness and respect that CIDSE mourns the passing of the Holy Father, who left us on Easter Monday.
Pope Francis has been an inspiration to many of us, our member organisations and the communities we work with around the world. His teachings and messages have been received with fraternal love and have deeply influenced our work in recent years.
His pontificate was marked by a bold and tireless call to listen to and care for the most vulnerable and to protect the integrity of creation. His encyclicals and apostolic exhortations – Laudato si’, Fratelli tutti and others – have been guiding lights in our mission to stand with the marginalised, the oppressed and those who suffer injustice.
He invited us to see the Church through the eyes of the margins, to embrace a decentralised and decolonised vision that challenges centuries-old power structures.
Pope Francis constantly reminded us that the Church cannot ignore the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, and ensure that all people, especially the poor, have a place at the table. His call for synodality invited us to form a more inclusive and collaborative Church, one that values every voice, no matter how small or far from the centres of power.
In a world deeply divided, there is an urgency to work together and dream together, an invitation that Pope Francis has made with consistent clarity and hope.
On this Earth Day, we are especially reminded of his prophetic voice calling us to care for our common home. As he said on Earth Day 2024:
“Our generation has bequeathed many riches, but we have failed to protect the planet and we are not safeguarding peace. We are called to become artisans and caretakers of our common home, the Earth which is “falling into ruin.” – Pope Francis, Earth Day 2024.
These words remain a powerful legacy, urging all of us – faith communities, civil society and decision-makers alike – to act with urgency, hope and compassion in the face of complex social and environmental crises. His vision of integral ecology continues to challenge and inspire our work, calling us to transform structures of injustice and build a more just and sustainable world.
United in prayer and solidarity, we express our heartfelt gratitude for his twelve years of humble and courageous service to the Universal Church. May his legacy live on through our collective commitment to justice, peace, and care for creation.
Additional reading:
Overview of CIDSE members’ reactions to the passing of his Holy Father, Pope Francis:
- Broederlijk Delen: Een brief aan Paus Franciscus, reactie op overlijden Paus Franciscus
- CAFOD: The death of Pope Francis; Pope Francis: 12 moments from 12 years as Pope, How Pope Francis inspired building a better world as the heartbeat of Catholic schools
- CCFD-Terre Solidaire: Pape François : Comment sa pensée a-t-elle nourri l’engagement du CCFD-Terre Solidaire ?
- Cordaid: In memoriam: Pope Francis
- Development and Peace – Caritas Canada: Farewell, Pope Francis
- Entraide et Fraternité: Merci Pape François d’avoir été un pontife fer de lance de la justice climatique
- eRko: Pápež František sa vrátil Domov
- Fastenaktion: Nachruf auf Papst Franziskus
- FEC: Obrigada, Papa Francisco!
- Focsiv: Con Papa Francesco
- KOO: Trauer um Papst Franziskus
- Manos Unidas: Manos Unidas expresa su profundo pesar por el fallecimiento del Papa Francisco
- Maryknoll office for Global Concerns: In Gratitude for the Life and Leadership of Pope Francis
- Misereor: Misereor trauert um Papst Franziskus
- SCIAF: Rest in peace, Pope Francis
- Trócaire: In memory of Pope Francis: A voice for justice and hope
- Vastenactie: Bij het overlijden van paus Franciscus, Twaalf jaar paus Franciscus: Een bron van hoop
CIDSE contact: Giorgio Gotra, Operations and Communication Manager (gotra(at)cidse.org)
Cover Photo Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk, Creative Commons