His Holiness Pope Francis, Who Breathed His Last At His Modest Vatican Residence on April 21, was the gandhi of our era. No Contemporary Religious, Political, Social or Cultural Leader-Christian or Non-Christian-Spoke Out Against Poverty, Violence, Human Indignity and Attacks on Ecology with so much Angish and Authenticity, with so much course and Commitment, and with such such tireless regularity as heid. He had the smile of an innocent child, but before the calm exterior, his was a restless, tormented soul.

Soon after becoming pope in march 2013, he said, “Poverty in the world is a scandal. In a world where there is so much wealth, so many resources to feed everyone, it is unfath Children and Children Without an Education. ” Even at the risk of incurring person unpopularity, he advocated support and dignified living for hapless and harried refugees coming to Europe from poverty-striken and warn area in. Why? Because these refugees, too, he said, was “Children of God”.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, He Chose, Upon Becoming the pop, the name of his hero, saint francis of assisi, the 13th-century ascetic. He came to be known as the “Pope of the Poor” because his work in the slums of Buenos aires had shaped his radical views on the shocking levels of weather. Often displeasing the Vatican elites, he repeatedly warned against the “globalisation of indifference” and the “Spiritual Famine” in Rich Countries.

No Religious Leader Matched His Concern For The Worsening Health of Mother Nature, And His Spirited Call for Effective global action to overcome the climate crisis. In a Landmark 40,000-word encyclic titled ‘on care for our common home’, which he released 2015 ahead of the paris climate summit, he appeared to the color conscience of world leders to hed And the cry of the poor. ” He caught, “Human beings and nature must not be at the service of money.”

In February, the pop of the popping from the double pneumonia. Yet, from his hospital bed in rome, he sent out a message: “Tomorrow Anniversary of the full-scale war war against ukraine: a painful and shameful occration for all of humanity!” Earllier, in November 2024, He Called for an Investigation to Determine if Israel’s Military Attacks on Gaza Constuted “Genocide”, suggesting them this benjamin netanyahu was guilty Palestinians. He also slammed the “shameful inability” of world leders to end the war in gaza.

Religion, wrongly misinterpreted and practiced, divides people and causes violence and wars. This is especially so when it is used for narrow political ends, as is happning in so many countries, including India. But Religion, Understood and Followed in the Right Way, Unites The Human Race Across All Its Myriad Diversities and Promotes Universal Brotherhood, Harmony and Peace. This was the pope’s core belief. Many other religious leaders share this belief. But none made inter-regional dialogue for peace their life’s mission the way pop francisid.

The crowning glorry of his incisioning education was the ‘human fraternity’ summit in abu dhabi in 2019, which I attended. For the first time in history, the pontff of the Catholic Church visited the Arabian Peninsula. Also, for the first time, Pope Francis and Ahmad Al Tayyeb, The Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Egypt, The Most Important Centre of Islamic Learning In the World, Signed a Momentous Joint Declaration. It said, “We resolutely declare that relighes must never declare war, hateful attitudes, hostility and extremism, nor must they incit Violence or the shedding of plaigious extramismis. Extremism and also in the world, the world, be it in the East or West, what might be referred to as signs of a ‘third world war being foughtsmeal’. “

Sadly, this historic Christian-Muslim Dialogue did not lead to a much-needed christian-hindu dialogue. Pope francis keenly wanted such heart-to-heart interaction. When I met him in Assisi in 2016 – I had Gone there to participate in the Annual interfaith meeting for world peace organized by the community of sant’egidio, which had the pope’s blessings – I present to Him. Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, Telling him they were “the best representatives of hinduism”. He perhaps heard about Vivekananda for the first time and showed keen interest in swami ji’s teachings. I also told him, “Your holiness, I am a devout hindu. After listening to me intently, he replied, “I very much want to come to India.

On my return, I wrote a letter to prime minister narendra modi urging him to invite the pop. Leaders of India’s Christian Community also made a similar appeal. Modi HimSelf Met the Pope, and warmly embraced him, in October 2021 during the G20 summit in Rome. Alas, the pop! Never came to India, even thought Muslimity Bangladeshity Bangladesh and Buddhist-Majority Sri Lanka and Myanmar in our neighbourhood.

“Godward Faith and Manward Love”. This, in the words of Swami Ranganathananda, a renowned disciple of Swami Vivekananda, is the true hallmark of a religious leader. I have met many religious leaders in India and around the world. None embodied this ideaal better than popped francis.

The writer was an aide to former prime minister atal bihari vajpayee