‘We must continue the Pope’s mission of mercy’ – Church and world leaders speak out as Pope Francis is laid to rest

His death in the middle of this Jubilee Year makes him the first Pope to open the sacred door at St Peter’s Basilica, and die without closing it

Pope Francis wanted to inspire people to be generous, compassionate and serve the poor, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said today, as world and Church leaders in Rome attended the funeral Mass in St Peter’s Square.

In an interview broadcast live on BBC local radio stations, Cardinal Nichols said, “Pope Francis spoke to our humanity, spoke to us as human beings,” said Cardinal Nichols. “He wanted us to be genuinely great in what makes us ‘great’, which is generosity, compassion and a conviction to serve the poorest and to try and even things up – to create a way of life that befits human beings. I think that’s the greatest thing that he managed to do.”

Cardinal Nichols, 79, is one of three English cardinals who are young enough to be eligible to vote in the coming conclave, expected to start a week Monday after nine days of official mourning. The other two are former head of the worldwide Dominicans, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP, also 79 and Cardinal Arthur Roche, 75, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. A fourth English cardinal, Michael Fitzgerald, is at 87 too old to vote but has stated his intention to be in Rome to contribute to preceding conversations.

Sir Keir Starmer was among the world leaders present at the Mass. He said he was “honoured” to be in Rome to pay his respects at the funeral. “May His Holiness Rest in Peace.” He also had a meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who before the Mass was photographed meeting with US President Donald Trump in the basilica. Starmer wrote on X: “Good to see President @ZelenskyyUa in Rome. We discussed positive progress made in recent days to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We must maintain the momentum.”

Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin also spoke of the late pope’s personal humility and his commitment to the poor and marginalised. He said: “Pope Francis’ papacy has been a profound gift to the Church and the world. He embodied a Church that listens, accompanies, and embraces all. His vision was not one of rigid structures or distant authority, but of a Church committed to encounter and deep solidarity with humanity.”

Christine Allen, director and chief executive of Cafod, said, “Pope Francis’ passion was to witness to God’s love, which for him meant challenging economic and climate injustice in the highest corridors of power and calling for a world where the dignity of all can be respected. This mission was a driving force that defined much of his papacy. 

“As the world comes together to honour and celebrate the life of Pope Francis, we must remember that he left us with unfinished business.

“His death in the middle of this Jubilee Year makes him the first Pope to open the sacred door at St Peter’s Basilica, and die without closing it.  We therefore must continue his mission of mercy – speaking up for the vulnerable, addressing injustice and giving hope to those trapped by poverty, debt and climate change.”

Catholic author, commentator and former Tablet editor Catherine Pepinster kept up a running commentary on the funeral Mass on X.

“Wow! that was some homily from Cardinal Battista Re, socking it to the world leaders about Pope Francis’ themes: the need to stand with the marginalised, including migrants and to care for the planet. Were you listening, President Trump?” she wrote. Cardinal Re, 91, is Dean of the College of Cardinals.

As the coffin was processed from St Peter’s after the Mass, she added: “This is a highly unusual moment. Not since 1903 has a pope been buried outside St Peter’s – although Pope Francis’ resting place, Santa Maria Maggiore, is a papal basilica.”

Richard Collyer-Hamlin, chairman of the Catholic Union: “Under Pope Francis, Catholicism became intriguing, interesting and even attractive to many outsiders.” Reaching out to the stranger, whether it be to offer food, shelter or to engage in listening, was at the heart of his teaching, he added.
 
“And this pontifical approach and attitude seems to have been beneficial to the public square. For instance, in parliament, over the last few years, we have noted a greater willingness from non-Catholic parliamentarians to give Catholic Social Teaching a fair hearing and to engage constructively. He made fruitful conversations with politicians of other faiths or no faith more likely. We have also seen that parliamentarian members of the three Abrahamic faiths, working together on ethical matters, can achieve much more if they collaborate.”

Earlier, Baroness Hollins, president of the Catholic Union said: “Pope Francis was at heart a compassionate and humble pastor who showed a deep compassion for all humanity especially those who are too often forgotten. He was a teacher who listened and found the words to connect and Catholic social teaching grew under his Pontificate.”

In his homily at a memorial Mass for Pope Francis, Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, said: One of the most memorable and meaningful greetings I received on a Christmas Card were the words – ‘May the peace of Christ disturb you this Christmas’.  Francis was a disturber of the peace, alerting us to genuine Christian values afresh.” 
 




 
 

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