By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African leaders have joined the global outpouring of grief following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday.
Pope Francis had been suffering from pneumonia with severe respiratory infection this year which led to his admission to hospital. The last report on his health was in March, when the Vatican said the pope was no longer using mechanical ventilation to help him breathe at night and that his doctors believed he would continue to improve.
The pope’s last public appearance was for Easter Sunday at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square. The next day, Easter Monday, the Vatican announced he had died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Tributes have been pouring in, with many reflecting on the pope’s consistent advocating for the marginalised, the poor and refugees.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Catholics and people of all faiths are saddened today by the passing of a spiritual leader who sought to unite humanity and wished to see a world governed by fundamental human values.
“As the leader of the Church and a global figurehead, Pope Francis advanced a worldview of inclusion, equality and care for marginalised individuals and groups, as well as responsible and sustainable custody of the natural environment.”
Ramaphosa said that the pope’s death, following so soon after the celebration of Easter, would extend this traditional period of prayer and reflection, to unite the Church and the international community in reflecting on the Holy Father’s life and legacy.
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said that for many around the world, including people of all faiths and of none, the distinguishing characteristic of his papacy was how close they felt to him.
And that as “the last globally recognised moral voice in our confused times, he gave us clear guidance in a complex and polarised political world”.
Makgoba said the poor of the world will miss him the most as a champion and custodian of their hopes and dreams.
“He was an incredible, prophetic pastor whose vision was a ‘church of the poor for the poor’, to quote one of his favourite sayings. We are deeply grateful to him for holding before us the image of the church as a field hospital, and for the incredible ways in which he embraced the marginalised, begging priests to identify with them as ‘shepherds living with the smell of the sheep’,” said Makgoba.
South African political parties also shared their condolences. ActionSA and the DA released statements on Monday, sharing their thoughts for the Catholic community in South Africa and remarking on the pope’s progressive leadership of the Church, as well as his constant compassion for those in need.
DA leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said: “As Head of State of the Vatican City State, and head of the Holy See, Pope Francis did not shy away from courageous positions seeking peace and tolerance for all. May he rest in eternal peace and love.”
ActionSA’s national spokesperson and MP Lerato Ngobeni said: “In what may be the most touching of farewells, Pope Francis, in his final hours, led the Church through the sacred celebration of Easter, leaving us with a solemn message just yesterday on Resurrection Sunday, “that we must run, hearts filled with joy, to meet the Lord”.
Tributes from World Leaders
Ex-US president Biden says Pope among ‘most consequential leaders’
Former US president Joe Biden paid tribute on Monday to late Pope Francis, saying he was “unlike any who came before him” and hailing his record of fighting for peace and equity.
“Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him,” Biden, a staunch Catholic, wrote on X alongside a picture of him and the Pope.
King Charles says ‘deeply saddened’ by death of Pope Francis
King Charles III said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Pope Francis, and that he had been “greatly moved” to visit him earlier this month with his wife Queen Camilla.
“Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many,” said King Charles, who is also the head of the Church of England.
African Union chair pays tribute to Pope Francis’s ‘towering moral voice’
The chair of the African Union paid tribute to a “towering moral voice of our time and a steadfast advocate for peace, justice, compassion, and human dignity” following the death of Pope Francis on Monday.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairman of the African Union, in a statement praised “the Pope’s courageous engagement with the African continent, amplifying the voices of the voiceless, championing peace and reconciliation, and standing in solidarity with those affected by conflict and poverty”.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities said: “Pope Francis was a true global leader whose commitment to climate justice has inspired millions. His Holiness established for a worldwide audience that the climate crisis is not just an environmental challenge but a profound social and ethical issue, exacerbated by greed and short-term profit seeking, disproportionately affecting the world’s most marginalised communities. His leadership highlighted how inequality and the climate crisis are inextricably linked, mobilising community-led climate action.
“From his groundbreaking Laudato si’ encyclical in 2015 to his championing of local communities and urgent call for action in Laudate Deum, Pope Francis consistently reminded world leaders of their responsibility to protect our planet, the vulnerable, and future generations.
“His message resonated strongly with mayors and city leaders who were honoured to meet the Pope on several occasions, most recently at the Vatican climate summit in May 2024.
“Pope Francis’s leadership will continue to inspire us as we work to create a sustainable, fairer world. On behalf of C40 Cities, I extend our deepest condolences and reaffirm our dedication to the urgent climate action he so passionately championed.”