The compassion and humility of Pope Francis won him admirers from all the world's faiths
SIR – As a British Muslim, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Growing up, I attended a Catholic primary school. Given my faith, this may seem unusual, but I never felt out of place. Those formative years gave me an insight into the values common to all religions – compassion, charity, humility and service to others.
Francis embodied these principles. Throughout his papacy, he demonstrated immense sympathy for people suffering under the heavy weight of warfare, persecution and injustice. He used his platform to advocate for the poor and marginalised, and to build bridges across religious divides. At a time when division often dominates headlines, he reminded the world that faith can be a force for unity and healing.
I am a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, which continues to face persecution in many parts of the world, and was especially touched when Francis welcomed our representatives to the Vatican with warmth and grace – a gesture we will always hold dear. It reflected the best of interfaith dialogue, grounded in mutual respect, shared values and human dignity.
Francis's passing is not only a loss for the Catholic Church, but for all of us who want a more compassionate world. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Catholics around the globe. May the Catholic Church soon find a leader who will continue his remarkable legacy.
Malik Fraz Ahmad
Bradford, West Yorkshire
SIR – President Donald Trump described Pope Francis as a 'good man' who 'worked hard and loved the world' (report, telegraph.co.uk, April 21). This is a very limited view of a person who devoted his life to making the world a better place, in contrast with Mr Trump's efforts just to make his own world a better place.
Francis was beloved by billions of people and respected by those of other faiths. He led the way to a more accepting Catholic Church. Those who didn't agree with him, or even openly opposed his changes, were still welcome in his house.
We need great people to set examples for us to follow, and we have lost one such person.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
SIR – I agree with Nicholas Crean (Letters, April 22) about how the deaths of Elizabeth II and Pope Francis have left huge gaps for so many people across the world.
They both dedicated their lives to others. How fitting it was for His Holiness to say farewell to this world at Easter.
Alexandra Elletson
Marlborough, Wiltshire
SIR – Christians, and indeed all women and men of goodwill, should not merely compete with anecdotes and quotes, but also respond to the challenges Francis has thrown out to the Church and the world.
Richard Stranack
Exmouth, Devon
SIR – It should be noted that not all Catholics regarded Francis as a good Pope.
His tenure, like Justin Welby's time as Archbishop of Canterbury, represents a wasted period for the Church in an increasingly hostile world.
This will become clear when honest and objective critical biographies begin to appear, untainted by immediate post-death sentimentality.
Adrian Barrett
Haywards Heath, West Sussex
SIR – Upon the passing of our Pope, I – and, I'm sure, many other Catholics – hope and pray that the time has arrived for us to ordain married and women priests.
Nicky Samengo-Turner
Lambourn, Berkshire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Reuters
China gets new Catholic bishop, as Pope Leo continues deal over appointments
VATICAN CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - A new assistant Catholic bishop was installed on Wednesday for Fuzhou, the capital of China's southeastern Fujian province, signalling that the Vatican's accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under Pope Leo. Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was appointed by Leo within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments. Michel Chambon , an academic who has written extensively on the Chinese Church, said Wednesday's installation indicates that both parties want to continue with the accord. "It is a willingness to support reconciliation instead of antagonism," said Chambon, a research fellow at the Asia Research Institute in Singapore. Some conservative Catholics have criticized the Vatican-China deal, which was negotiated under the late Pope Francis. The critics say it gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight rein on religious practice since taking power in 1949. The Vatican stresses that the pope retains final decision-making power and says the accord resolves a decades-long split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Yuntuan had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican said in a brief statement that it had "learned with satisfaction" that his role had been officially recognised by the government. "This event constitutes another fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities and is a significant step," it said. As part of Wednesday's ceremony, Yuntuan swore to abide by Chinese laws and to safeguard social harmony, according to a report on social media provided by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Across China there are about 5 million Catholics in a total population of 1.4 billion, the Vatican estimates. The Vatican and China last renewed their accord in October 2024, for a further period of four years. The text of the deal has never been published, but only described by diplomatic officials.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Pope Leo XIV names first Chinese bishop, signalling he is continuing Vatican's controversial accord
Pope Leo XIV made his first appointment of a Chinese bishop under the Vatican's 2018 agreement with Beijing, signalling he is continuing one of Pope Francis' most controversial foreign policy decisions. The Vatican expressed satisfaction that Leo's June 5 nomination of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou was recognized Wednesday by Chinese authorities. The Vatican said in a statement that Lin taking possession of the diocese and the civic recognition of his appointment 'constitutes a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities and is a significant step in the diocese's communal journey.' Francis had riled conservatives when he approved a deal in 2018 over bishop nominations, which had been the most divisive issue in Vatican- China relations since diplomatic ties were severed when the Communists came to power. China had insisted on an exclusive right to name bishops as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican asserted the pope's exclusive right to name the successors of the original Apostles. China's estimated 12 million Catholics have been divided between an official, state-controlled church that didn't recognize papal authority and an underground church that remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution. The Vatican tried for decades to unify the flock and the 2018 deal was aimed at healing that division, regularizing the status of seven bishops who weren't recognized by Rome and thawing decades of estrangement between China and the Vatican. The details of the 2018 deal were never released, but it affords the state-controlled church a say in its church leaders, though Francis insisted he retained veto power over the ultimate choice. The deal has been criticized by some, especially on the Catholic right, for having caved to Beijing's demands and sold out the underground faithful in China. The Vatican has said it was the best deal it could get and has been renewed periodically since then. One of the big foreign policy questions facing Leo, history's first American pope, was whether he would continue renewing the accord or heed conservative demands and make some changes. There have been apparent violations on the Beijing side with some unilateral appointments that occurred without papal consent. The issue came to a head just before the conclave that elected Leo pope, when the Chinese church proceeded with the preliminary election of two bishops, a step that comes before official consecration. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
The Courier
2 days ago
- The Courier
Boy, 9, died trying to escape abuse at Fife school as family make 'cover-up' claim
The brother of a nine-year-old boy who died while trying to escape a Fife residential school has accused the UK Government of a cover-up. The youngster was knocked down and killed as police chased him along the M90 in April 1972. It was the 13th time the boy had run away from Corsbie Hall, in Thornton, amid claims of horrific abuse. A Fife MP later claimed the school could be part of 'a major education scandal'. However, Secretary of State for Scotland Gordon Campbell rejected calls for an inquiry. The family of the youngster who died told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry they were astonished at Lord Campbell of Croy's reaction. They claim documents suggest the secretary of state and George Taylor-Bryant, Corsbie Hall's headteacher, were friends. Francis, the boy's brother, said: 'They've airbrushed everything out of existence and it will come back to haunt them. 'My reaction is it's a cover-up.' Corsbie Hall was located in the old Thornton Fever Hospital, near Glenrothes, from 1970 to 1972. The inquiry heard children were regularly beaten, starved and forced to take cold showers at the school for 'mentally and socially disturbed pupils'. And Margaret Thatcher, education secretary at the time, stopped English youngsters from attending. The nine-year-old boy who died cannot be named due to legal restrictions. However, the inquiry heard he was removed from his Stirling home against his family's wishes because was dyslexic. Francis and sister Sharon, both pseudonyms, said their brother complained of being locked in a cupboard in just his pants almost every night. He spoke of being hit with sticks, refused food and forced to scrub floors and carry rocks. Then, in a letter home, the youngster told how he had run away 12 times but promised not to do it again. However, Sharon said: 'He ran away one more time and that's when he was killed.' The youngster's death had a devastating impact on his family and many years later they started looking for answers. They discovered Parliamentary records which show Fife Labour MP Willie Hamilton pushed several times for an official inquiry into Corsbie Hall. He said the situation was 'extremely unsatisfactory'. However, a letter from the secretary of state described their brother running away as 'no more than a boyish escapade'. And Lord Campbell, who died in 2005 aged 83, said: 'No blame can be attached to the school.' He later accused Mr Hamilton of 'being a little hard on the school', adding: 'I don't think an inquiry will serve any useful purpose.' The records show Corsbie Hall headteacher Mr Taylor-Bryant had no teaching or childcare qualifications. They also revealed one of the teachers had previously been charged with sexual offences against children.
