Statement on the death of Pope Francis
From the CLACSO Working Group on Just Transitions and Care for Our Common Home We received with profound sadness and deep shock the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. His departure leaves an immense void not only in the Catholic Church, but also in the hearts of millions of people around the world who saw in him a beacon of hope, humility, and commitment to the most vulnerable.
Francis was not just another pope; he was a man who, from the margins of the world—Argentine, Jesuit, and Latin American—knew how to speak to believers and non-believers alike with a clear, courageous, and profoundly human message. His teaching was characterized by a prophetic denunciation of an economic system that discards, that leaves behind the most vulnerable, and that destroys our common home. He did not hesitate to call the injustices of the modern world by their name, pointing to an economy that kills, that turns everything into a commodity, and that excludes millions of brothers and sisters from access to a dignified life.
Francis understood, like few others, that there is no true spirituality without a commitment to social justice. In his words and actions, he always placed the marginalized, migrants, indigenous peoples, workers, young people, and women at the center, calling for the building of a Church for everyone.
But his legacy goes far beyond words, because he knew how to initiate processes, create spaces for dialogue, and inspire people to walk together. Synodality was one of his greatest commitments: listening, allowing himself to be challenged by reality, and daring to build community from diversity. In times of polarization and ideological entrenchment, he invites us to recognize ourselves by embracing differences as a richness, not a threat.
Francis tirelessly promoted a culture of encounter in a world wounded by individualism and indifference. He called us to reach out to others, especially those who think differently, those who suffer, and those who have been excluded. He reminded us that dialogue is not a political strategy, but an expression of the deep desire to build bridges and tear down walls.
Today we bid farewell to the Pope of the peripheries, who sought to reform the Church into a house with open doors, where all men and women of every walk of life live with equal rights and responsibilities. A Pope who urgently called upon us to care for our common home. We say goodbye to a global leader who did not retreat to palaces or hide behind desks, who lived simply and died true to his principles. His voice will continue to resonate as an urgent call to fraternity, social justice, and peace. May his memory inspire us to continue walking together toward that other possible world he so deeply instilled in us.
Rest in peace, Pope Francis. Forever in our hearts
April 22th 2025
CLACSO Working Groups
Just transitions and care for our common home
This statement expresses the position of the aforementioned Working Group and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
