By Mabel Adinya Ade
In a time of deep division, noise, and struggle, the world has lost a rare light a Father who lived and served not for titles or wealth, but in total humility and unwavering commitment to the service of humanity.
He took an oath of poverty, and lived it fully not as a symbol, but as a lifestyle of sacrifice, simplicity, and solidarity. He called on all of us to seek not just forgiveness from sin, but a deeper conversion: a transformation of the heart that builds true humanity rooted in love, dignity, and justice.
He was a bridge-builder a tireless voice for peace, reconciliation, and inclusion. He reached across religions, ethnicities, and ideologies with compassion and conviction. He walked among the poor, embraced the marginalized, and kissed the feet of the forgotten. His life was a gospel lived aloud.
In his heart beat a special concern for family , single parents, for the elderly, for migrants struggling to survive harsh journeys in search of better lives. He taught the world that migration is not a crime and that every person regardless of their origin deserves a chance to thrive.
He gave the Earth a voice when few listened. Through Laudato Si’, he reminded humanity that the environment is not just a resource to be exploited, but a sacred home to be nurtured and protected. He called on governments, corporations, and citizens alike to listen to the “cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.”
He broke boundaries that many feared to touch recognizing the value and leadership of women in the Church. He opened the doors to female clergy, included women in key positions, and consistently sought their advice and perspectives. In doing so, he began to undo centuries of exclusion, setting an example that institutions worldwide must now follow.
Even when his health declined, he remained alert to the cries of the helpless. He carried his pain quietly while carrying the burdens of others with unwavering grace.
To Catholics and non-Catholics alike, he was more than a religious leader he was a moral compass, a father to the world, and a symbol of integrity and spiritual courage.
Today, we grieve. Uncontrollably, deeply. We cry not just because we have lost a beloved shepherd, but because the world desperately needs voices like his, voices that unite, voices that listen, voices that love and advocate.
But even as we mourn, we commit to carry on his legacy: to speak for the voiceless, to embrace the stranger, to fight for the Earth, to include the excluded, and to love without limit.
May God grant him eternal rest.
May perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in perfect peace. Amen.
