Pope Francis would have felt 'at home' in Liverpool sharing same sense of humour, Archbishop says

ITV News

21-04-2025

Pope Francis shared the same sense of humour and warmth as those living in the North West and would have "felt at home" here, the Archbishop of Liverpool has said in tribute.
The head of the Catholic church died aged 88 on Easter Monday following weeks of health issues, the Vatican confirmed.
Paying tribute to the leader, the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon, Archbishop of Liverpool, who met Pope Francis a number of times - most recently in January - said he was "deeply saddened by the news".
"He was always smiling - at least when he saw me, of course he could have been laughing at me I don't know!" the Archbishop, who announced his retirement in March, said.
'He was a very happy, warm man. He had a deep kind of joy really within him. I think it came from that thing that we're all seeking, which is an inner peace.'
Speaking of the North West and in particular Liverpool, he added: "I think the Holy Father would feel at home here because he had a great sense of humour just like the like Liverpudlians.
"He also had a warmth which is I think common to most people in the North of England, and so they will miss him, they will identify with him and they will miss him all the more because of it.'
The Pope was last seen in public on Easter Sunday, where he blessed thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.
He was admitted to hospital in February for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia and stayed there for 38 days.
Pope Francis had led the Catholic church for 12 years, was known for his forward-thinking and informality.
'He had an openness to the world,"Archbishop McMahon said.
"He wanted the church to serve the world in many ways, and the way he saw, the best way, the way which the church had laid down at the second Vatican Council was to be open and generous and faithful to our tradition, but to interpret it in a way which was very, very inclusive.'
He added that modern media meant many Catholics felt much closer to the Pope, taking him from "this kind of distant - mystical almost - figure" to "someone who we all know".
The Right Reverend John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, also paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying he showed "such determination to fulfil his commitments and return to his ministry" despite his illnesses.
In a statement he said: "Let us be grateful for the humble way in which he served the Church, putting aside the pomp and decoration of his office, to be among us.
"From the first days of his papacy, he has shown his love for people and his determination to be close to those who came to him.
"Let us be grateful for his teaching and all that he has done to help the Church to be true to Gospel values in our ever-changing world.
"Let us give thanks for his concern for the environment which has done so much to make people within the Church and beyond aware of the dangers of climate change and the need for urgent action.
"Let us be thankful for his example of welcome to all who might be even curious about a faith in Jesus Christ.
"Every Pope must be a Pope for his time, and we give thanks for the achievements of Pope Francis' predecessors, but we recognise the courage and the dedication of Pope Francis in guiding us in unprecedented times where our world is seemingly overwhelmed by conflicts, migration, poverty and climate change."
In 2023 the Bishop, alongside the Dean of Manchester and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham visited the Vatican to meet with the Pope to discuss climate change.They presented Pope Francis with some Heavenly Honey - made by bees from both Salford and Manchester Cathedrals.
He was also given both Manchester United and Manchester City shirts.