Statement on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis

We, the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, are deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. As the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to occupy the See of Peter, he led with courage, humility, and conviction. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis inspired countless individuals and institutions with his unwavering commitment to justice and peace. His profound wisdom and boundless compassion elevated the voices of the forgotten—migrants, the poor, and those pushed to society’s margins—and called on all of us to act as though each human being was a sibling. A tireless champion of God’s creation, he dedicated two encyclicals to caring for the earth as our common home. He mobilized civic and faith communities worldwide to safeguard our planet as our home for future generations. In celebrating Pope Francis’ extraordinary life, we give thanks for his steadfast moral vision, his courageous advocacy on behalf of the vulnerable, and his enduring call to love one another without exception. Though he has now gone from our sight, the light of his example will continue to guide the global family of faith and inspire us to build a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world.