Press Release 21. April 2025
Pope Francis (1936 – 2025)
From CONTROL towards COMPASSION
The sudden death of Pope Francis after taking part in Easter Sunday is a shock to many who loved and admired him. In his 12 years as pope, he worked hard to move the focus of our church from control towards compassion.
Jesus chided the church leaders who enforced many laws but did very little to lighten people's daily burden.
Both Popes John Paul ll and Benedict XVl were strong supporters of laws to keep tight control on their flocks. They centralised power and control in the Vatican.
Pope Francis took a much more compassionate view with his
· smell of the sheep;
· who am I to judge;
· supporting refugees and immigrants whether fleeing persecution or escaping lives in poverty.
He nearly lost his way in Chile when he initially refused to accept the reports of clerical sex abuse but then saw the light and sought resignations of many bishops.
He bravely called for a Global Synod on Synodality where everything would be on the table and laity and women would have equal voices with bishops and cardinals. The curia feared for their privileges and pushed all dangerous topics out of the Synod to Vatican Study Groups. But the final document left each country and diocese free to move forward with reforms to bring the church back in line with the teachings of Jesus.
Pope Francis did have a blind spot regarding women in ordained ministries. But now that he has ended his life here on earth and is in heaven with our god, s/he will gently help him to understand the full equality of all women and men.
We give thanks for the earthly life of Pope Francis and the many blessings he gave us.
May he rest in peace!
Press contacts:
Colm Holmes, Chair We are Church International
Email: colmholmes2020@gmail.com
Phone: +353 86606 3636
Dr Martha Heizer, Vice-Chair We are Church International
Email: martha@heizer.at
Phone: +43 650 4168500
We Are Church International (WAC) founded in Rome in 1996, is a global coalition of national church reform groups. It is committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church based on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed therefrom.
