St Vincent de Paul Society Members around the world mourn the death of Pope Francis (né Jorge Mario Bergoglio) and celebrate his inspiration and good works, notably his commitment to social justice issues such as the welfare of migrant people and refugees.

‘In death as in life, the spirit and ideals of the late Pontiff continue to inspire the actions of people worldwide’, said the Society’s Australian National President, Mark Gaetani.

‘By his choice of name, dress, place of residence and actions such us visiting Lampedusa [the landing place for many desperate refugees] and washing the feet of prisoners, Pope Francis showed us that his papacy would be focused on the most vulnerable.

‘The example of Il Papa, or ‘The Father’, as he’s called in Italian, inspires not only Catholics but the many millions who oppose discrimination and exclusion, and who support his calls for compassion and justice for those coming from distant lands.

‘Despite his pontifical authority, Pope Francis was an immensely humble person, dedicated to bringing Christ’s message to countries far from Rome, including in our region, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Indonesia, just last year.

‘Inclusion was his lodestar, and he did much to bring ordinary people into the Church. He was a champion for Synodality or bringing people together to hear their views and seek their input. This included the promotion of lay people into and within the Church, particularly expanded roles for women.’

Mr Gaetani borrowed the words of US writer Robert Reich who calls Pope Francis ‘The conscience of the world’ and writes ‘At a time when moral leadership has been in short supply, Pope Francis pointed towards the light’.

‘In his final papal address, at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis urged us to ‘revive our trust in others’, including those who are different to us or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas.

‘This spirit of inclusion lies at the heart of our faith and our Church. It inspired Pope Francis in a very real way, not least his promotion of inter-faith dialogue with both Christian and non-Christian religions,’ Mr Gaetani added.

‘In a homily in 2022, he said, ‘Please, always be inclusive: in the Church and in society, which is still marred by many forms of inequality and marginalisation. Always be inclusive’.

‘There is so much to celebrate in the long life of Pope Francis, and while his passing is a cause for great sadness, his contributions were many and his inspiration ran deep. With God’s grace, may he rest in peace and may his successors continue to inspire and empower ordinary people around the world.’ R

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered this tribute on 21 April 2025 (edited for length) 

Australian Catholics and faithful around the world give thanks for the life of their Holy Father, Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome.

Today, the prayers of more than a billion people – from all nations and every walk of life – go with Pope Francis to his rest.

His was a papacy of firsts – the first pope to hail from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to take the name of the great champion of the poor, St Francis of Assisi.

Pope Francis’ compassion embraced all humanity. He urged us to remember all we hold in common and asked the world to hear the ‘cry of the earth’, our common home. He invited world leaders to join him and:

“Emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future into the dawn of a new radiant day.”

It was a message he echoed in our region during his historic visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Timor-Leste.

The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere was ‘close to the people of Australia’. For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father.

May God welcome Pope Francis to eternal life. R