Hyderabad (AsiaNews) – When, on 13 March 2013, he appeared on the same loggia of St Peter's Basilica from which he gave his last blessing yesterday morning, Pope Francis said of himself that the cardinals picked him because he came "from the end of the world."
Over the years, we have come to grasp the meaning of this expression from the care the pontiff showed for the people living on the geographical and existential margins or peripheries of the world, a vantage point from which “the world is better observed”.
One of the many major signs of his concern for people living in this part of the world came in 2022 when he appointed an Asian, Archbishop Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, to the cardinalate, not only because he comes from a peripheral diocese in India, but also for the personal history of the new cardinal.
With this choice, the Catholic Church picked a Dalit prelate for the first time, that is, someone from an “untouchable” or “outcaste” background, people historically marginalised in India’s caste system. Although formally outlawed under the country’s constitution, caste differences persist and removing them remains an uphill battle, even within Christian communities.
We therefore want to remember the magisterium and example of Pope Francis of a “Church that is poor and for the poor" through Cardinal Poola’s words.
With a heart full of sorrow, yet uplifted by the hope of the Resurrection, I pay my humble tribute to our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis.
The passing of Pope Francis marks the end of a profoundly significant chapter in the life of the Church. His pontificate was a living Gospel, echoing the mercy of Christ and extending the embrace of the Church to the peripheries of the world. In him, we encountered a shepherd after the heart of Jesus – simple, sincere, and tirelessly committed to the poor, the forgotten, and the wounded.
With deep gratitude, I remember the singular honour and immense responsibility he bestowed on me by naming me a cardinal during his pontificate. I accepted this not as a mark of privilege, but as a call to greater service – service rooted in the very spirit Pope Francis embodied: a Church that goes forth, a Church that listens, a Church that heals.
Holy Father, thank you for showing us how to walk humbly with God. Thank you for reminding the Church that its heart must beat in rhythm with the suffering, the marginalised, and those on the edges of society. Your prophetic witness, gentle strength, and enduring joy have inspired a generation to believe anew in the nearness of God’s mercy.
We will remember Pope Francis as the pope who dared to dream of “a Church that is poor and for the poor.” He did not merely speak of synodality, mercy, and dialogue – he lived them. With courage, he opened doors that had long been shut. He reminded us that the Church is not a fortress but a field hospital. His words and gestures rekindled hope among refugees, prisoners, the elderly, and young people. He looked each person in the eye, not as a number, but as a soul beloved by God.
His choice of the name ‘Francis’ was no mere symbolism. Like the Poverello of Assisi, he radiated a disarming simplicity and joy, a love for creation, and a deep longing for peace. He called us to care for our common home, to build bridges, not walls, and to become instruments of encounter and reconciliation in a fractured world.
Though we grieve his loss, we take comfort in the seeds he has sown. The spirit of renewal he stirred in the Church will continue to bear fruit. His legacy is not written only in documents, but in the hearts of millions he touched – through his humility, authenticity, and unwavering focus on Christ.
As we commend his soul to the Lord, we pray: “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.” May Pope Francis, faithful servant of God, rest in peace, and may his example continue to inspire us to follow the Master with courage, love, and mercy.
* cardinal archbishop of Hyderabad
(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)
