In a poignant tribute to the late Pope Francis, Archbishop Paul Gallagher shares his personal insights into the Pontiff’s unwavering commitment to duty until his final breath. From his courageous stance on difficult subjects to his ability to break down barriers between the public and the Church, Pope Francis will be remembered for generations to come.
The Voice of the Voiceless: Archbishop Paul Gallagher Remembers Pope Francis
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister since 2014, shared his thoughts on Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88. The archbishop described the Pope as a ‘polite, gentle and compassionate man‘ who was driven to carry on because he knew he had an opportunity to help the powerless.
A Man of Courage
Archbishop Gallagher praised Pope Francis for his remarkable courage in facing difficult subjects head-on. Despite advice from those around him to slow down, the Pope preferred to ‘die with his boots on,’ as Archbishop Gallagher put it. This determination was evident in his willingness to visit countries that were deemed too dangerous, such as the Central African Republic.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.
He was elected as the first Jesuit Pope in March 2013.
Born in Argentina, he studied chemistry and philosophy before becoming a priest.
As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he advocated for social justice and human rights.
He has been a vocal advocate for environmental protection, poverty reduction, and interfaith dialogue.
In 2020, he became the first Pope to visit Iraq, promoting peace and reconciliation in the region.
‘He would face up to the issues and that showed remarkable courage,’ said Archbishop Gallagher. The archbishop also recalled a meeting where many advisers told the Pope not to visit the country due to safety concerns, but he insisted on going anyway. ‘He just said ‘well I’m going and if nobody wants to come, fine, I’ll go on my own,’ which of course was rather putting us to shame,’ Archbishop Gallagher remembered.
Breaking Down Barriers
Archbishop Gallagher also highlighted Pope Francis‘s ability to break down barriers between the public and the institution of the Church. The Pope was ‘very approachable, very normal‘ and would often meet with regular people, particularly young people, rather than just politicians and heads of state. This, according to Archbishop Gallagher, was a key part of his legacy.
‘I used to like telling anecdotes and he also liked that sort of thing,’ the archbishop said. The Pope’s ability to connect with ordinary people was evident in his willingness to listen to their stories and concerns. As Archbishop Gallagher recalled, the Pope’s last words to him were ‘don’t lose your sense of humour.’
A Lasting Impact
The Vatican reported that over 250,000 people paid their respects to Pope Francis during his lying-in-state in St Peter’s Basilica. The archbishop acknowledged the magnitude of the void left by the Pope’s death but also celebrated his legacy.
Pope Francis will be remembered for many dimensions, including breaking down barriers between the public and the institution of the Church. His approachability and willingness to listen to ordinary people were key aspects of his leadership. As Archbishop Gallagher said, ‘he was very much the voice of the voiceless and was very aware that the vast majority of people are powerless and do not have their destiny in their hands.‘
