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The Issue: The passing of Pope Francis on Monday at age 88 after a battle with pneumonia.
As a Muslim, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis (“Holy Father ‘returns to the Lord,’ ” April 22).
Growing up, I attended a Catholic primary school.
Those formative years gave me an invaluable insight into the values common across all faiths — those of compassion, charity, humility and service to others.
Pope Francis embodied those principles.
Throughout his papacy, he consistently demonstrated immense sympathy for those suffering under the heavy weight of warfare, persecution and injustice.
He used his platform to advocate for the poor and marginalized and to build bridges across religious divides.
May the Catholic Church soon find a new leader who will continue to uphold Pope Francis’ remarkable legacy.
Malik Fraz Ahmad
Bradford, UK
It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time.
As the pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths.
He advocated for the voiceless and powerless.
He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church.
He was the “People’s Pope” — a light of faith, hope and love.
Paul Bacon
Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Despite doctors’ repeated entreaties not to be engaging with large crowds, His Holiness visited a prison last Thursday, then was driven into the throngs of thousands of religious pilgrims throughout St. Peter’s Square Sunday afternoon.
Not only the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, His Holiness was humanity’s spiritual liaison to God and Jesus Christ in life and remains so in death.
This gentle yet frail man, advanced in years and a victim of chronic illness, possessed both the spirit and will to live through one last Easter’s celebration.
And now, having left earthly bounds of mankind, he’s going home to be with and sit alongside both God and Jesus Christ in heaven.
Earl Beal
Terre Haute, Ind.
God Bless Francis in heaven.
He cared about many issues, even clerical-abuse victims.
The Vatican has big shoes to fill.
A possible successor would be New York’s own Archbishop Dolan.
Matt Engel
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
The world has lost a true champion of faith in Francis.
As the cardinals from around the world travel to Rome to begin the process of electing a new pontiff, may God bless them with wisdom and sincerity as they make their very important decision.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
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Speaking on behalf of everyone who’s lost faith in religious charlatans and corrupt leaders, I am going to miss the efforts of Pope Francis to bring comfort and joy to a world that’s become cold, callous and filled with contempt for mankind.
He is proof that a genuine holy man can truly make a difference.
Bob Ory
Chicago, Ill.
The Vatican could use an American pope, a man like Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
It’s significant that he is the Archbishop of New York — the unofficial communications capital of the world — where influence and reach extends far beyond our national shores.
Alicia Cashman
Lawrenceville, NJ
President Trump described Pope Francis as a good man who “worked hard and loved the world.”
This is very much a minimalist view of a person who devoted his life to making the world a better place, as opposed to Trump’s effort to just make his own world a better place.
Francis was beloved by billions of people.
Those who didn’t agree with him, or even openly opposed his changes, were still welcome in his house.
We all need great people to set examples for us to follow and, sadly, we have just lost one of the greats.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Box Hill, Australia
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