88歲被《時代週刊》稱為「人民的教宗」的方濟各在復活節後早晨離世, 成為了每天盡忠事奉神的見證。

方濟各是第一位出生於南美洲, 及為耶穌會教士的教宗。方濟各以放棄財富選擇終生貧窮的聖方濟各作為他教宗名號, 向世界表達自己人生目標。在擔任教宗這12年來, 方濟各展現了所堅守的信仰, 不斷為受壓迫的人發聲, 表達神對弱勢人仕的關愛。

方濟各被選上擔任教宗時, 已達76歲, 健康狀況並不理想。他早前患上肺炎,住在醫院38天, 期間醫生表示方濟各多次接近離世。醫生建議他至少要休息兩個月, 但方濟各堅持履行他的責任, 主持了各項復活節活動。上週四濯足日, 他仍如往常習慣探訪監獄。但他沒有能力仿效耶穌為門徒洗腳的傳統, 卻為囚友們祝福。方濟各曾多次批評特朗普總統及他團隊的政策, 包括驅逐難民。不過在復活節他離世前一天,方濟各仍接見到訪的萬斯副總統, 並給他三位孩子送上禮物。

方濟各打破了教廷的不少傳統, 在上任時要求天主教會進行財政改革, 強調公開透明。他堅持過著簡樸的生活,沒有住在梵蒂崗內超過10個房間的教宗住所, 和平常人一樣, 他住在只有兩間房的平常套間。雖然天主教教義反對同性戀, 但方濟各在2023年頒佈容許天主教神職人員在聖禮以外, 為舉行同性婚姻者祝福。方濟各曾表示:「如果同性戀者心懷善意追尋上帝，我又有什麼資格去論斷他們？」

方濟各希望所有人能以寬容的心去對待那些因為窮困或遭到性侵而被迫墮胎的女性，「面對如此痛苦的處境，又有誰會無動於衷？」對於離婚和再婚的天主教徒被禁止領聖餐禮，他批評領聖餐禮的目的「不應該是證明一個人的完美，而是要用來滋養弱者的身體」。

從俄烏戰爭到加薩衝突，方濟各都聲嘶力竭倡議和平。去年3月方濟各曾表示烏克蘭應有「舉白旗」的勇氣談判，引來不少批評。對特朗普築牆阻擋移民的作法, 他表示「稱不上基督徒」。不久前,他發表給美國主教團的公開信, 表示特朗普的移民政策注定將「惡始惡終」。

可以說, 方濟各擔任教宗期間, 他展現出現代基督徒如何在教會歷史及傳統之下, 活出並持守信仰的生命。方濟各是現代社會在國家權力及企業財富擁有者以外, 全世界的人都值得學效跟隨的另類領袖。

周偉文, 社長

A different kind of Leader  — Pope Francis

Pope Francis, who was called the “People’s Pope” by Time magazine at the age of 88 passed away on the morning after Easter, becoming a testament to a life of daily devotion to God.

Francis was the first pope born in South America and also the first Jesuit pope. He chose the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi who gave up wealth to live a life of poverty, thereby expressing his own life mission to the world. Over the past 12 years as pope, Francis has demonstrated his unwavering faith, consistently speaking out for the oppressed and conveying God’s compassion for the marginalized.

When Francis was elected pope, he was already 76 years old and not in ideal health. Earlier on he suffered from pneumonia and spent 38 days in the hospital, during which doctors said he had several near-death moments. Although doctors recommended at least two months of rest, Francis insisted on fulfilling his duties and presided over the Easter events. On Maundy Thursday, as per tradition, he still visited a prison. Though no longer physically able to follow the custom of washing the feet of inmates like Jesus did with His disciples, he offered them blessings instead. Francis repeatedly criticized President Trump and his administration’s policies, including the expulsion of refugees. However, just a day before his passing, Francis still met with visiting Vice President JD Vance and gave gifts to his three children.

Francis broke with many Vatican traditions. Upon taking office, he called for financial reform within the Catholic Church and emphasized transparency. He insisted on living simply, choosing not to reside in the papal residence in the Vatican, which has over ten rooms. Instead, he lived in a modest suite with only two rooms. Although Catholic doctrine opposes homosexuality, in 2023, Francis issued a decree allowing clergy to bless same-sex couples outside of the sacraments. He once said, “If a homosexual person seeks God with goodwill, who am I to judge?”

Francis hoped that all people would treat women who had abortions—especially due to poverty or sexual assault—with compassion: “Faced with such painful situations, who could remain unmoved?” Regarding the ban on divorced and remarried Catholics receiving the Eucharist, he criticized the idea that Communion should be reserved only for the perfect, saying its true purpose is “to nourish the weak.”

From the war in Ukraine to the conflict in Gaza, Francis tirelessly advocated for peace. In March of last year, he controversially suggested that Ukraine should have the “courage to raise the white flag” and pursue negotiations. Regarding Trump’s border wall to stop immigration, he said such actions were “not Christian.” Not long ago, he issued an open letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, declaring that Trump’s immigration policy was doomed to “begin and end in evils.”

It can be said that during his papacy, Pope Francis embodied how modern Christians can live out and uphold their faith under the weight of church history and tradition. Francis was a different kind of leader—one who, beyond national power and corporate wealth, set a life example for all people around the world to follow.

Mr. Raymond Chow, publisher