Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis since March 2013, right up to his passing on Monday at 88 – was an odd one out. Not just as head of the Catholic church, but also as the head of any organised faith. Religions, like clubs, are fundamentally exclusionary institutions, each setting itself apart from the other through ‘club rules’ – the way its faithful are to morally behave and imaginatively believe. But, somehow, under his innings, the papacy turned into a beacon of inclusivity. He embraced a vision of the church as a sanctuary for all, regardless of background, status, gender, sexual identity or even religion.
Francis championed the rights of refugees, urging nations to welcome them. This, even as he met the vice-president of a country he had, on occasions, criticised for its growing anti-immigration policy, on Sunday just before delivering his last public Easter address. His advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community marked a big shift in the church’s stance. His encyclicals, like ‘Laudato Si’,’ (Praise Be To You), addressed universal concerns like environmental stewardship, urging humanity to unite in caring for our common home and other species. While maintaining doctrinal boundaries, he emphasised the importance of love and acceptance, famously stating, ‘Who am I to judge?’ Indeed, a question that all of us should be hardwired to ask.
