I’m not Catholic or even a religious person but Pope Francis was somebody that I made a point to pay attention to. I respected him, and I will miss his intellect, humility and most of all his humanity. Something our world could use a lot more of today.
Pope Francis was many things but one that is often understated and seldom referenced is the fact that before priesthood he studied science, graduating with a título (degree) in chemistry from the Escuela Técnica Industrial No. 12, which is a state-run technical secondary school. His chemistry degree is similar to getting a technical degree from a community college in the US. This scientific background gave him an appreciation and recognition of what was happening to the environment, genetics and medical advances. Most importantly as Pope he was able to use his intellect and charm to reinforce how faith and science can be compatible and reminded the world of the impact science should and does have on humanity. Like many scientists before him he did not shy away from faith because of science, instead he embraced and respected science and reminded people to take it seriously by pointing out how ignoring it is both irresponsible and inhumane. He was a passionate environmentalist and encouraged the world to take climate change seriously. Often calling it a “road to death” and a “structural sin” that disproportionately affects the poor.
It is also true that Pope Francis was arguably one of the most inclusive Popes to ever live and uniquely able to reach an audience outside the walls of Catholicism. He not so long ago said to children in Singapore: “All religions are paths to reach God. They are—to make a comparison—like different languages, different dialects, to get there. But God is God for everyone. If you start to fight saying ‘my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t’, where will this lead us? There is only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christians; they are different ways to God.”
Early in his papacy he was asked about his attitude to homosexuality. Francis replied: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” He respected all humans once again breaking the traditional norms by recognizing sexuality has little to nothing to do with your faith.
Pope Francis, like all humans was not perfect, but he was intelligent, humble and kind. One of his biggest missteps was how he handled the Chilean sexual abuse scandal and his initial refusal to believe the victims. But unlike so many other leaders today he had integrity, ethics and morality and later both acknowledged his mistake by accepting the resignations of the Chilean bishops and issuing a formal apology to the victims telling them he had made a “grave error”.
Pope Francis was a globalist and believed the world could be better than pure neoliberalism, even going so far as to call out the fallacy in trickle down policy with the following statements during the pandemic:
Once the pandemic passes, the pope wrote, “our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation.”
Picking up on some of his favorite themes, Francis reminded us that the marketplace cannot resolve every problem, and he denounced what he describes as “this dogma of neoliberal faith” that “resort[s] to the magic theories of ‘spillover’ or ‘trickle.’ A good economic policy, he says, creates jobs — it doesn’t eliminate them.
It is not surprising that with respect to immigration the pope focused on the need to welcome migrants and provide for the poor and disabled. He also reminded us of the ugliness of racism. The following statement he made four years ago is worth taking time to remember and words we should all heed:
“Every brother or sister in need, when abandoned or ignored by the society in which I live, becomes an existential foreigner, even though born in the same country. They may be citizens with full rights, yet they are treated like foreigners in their own country. Racism is a virus that quickly mutates and, instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and lurks in waiting.”
Finally, I leave you with the following statement Pope Francis made March of 2020 that seems truer than ever today and a favorite of mine.
“We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, all of us to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.”
RIP Pope Francis. The world will miss you.
Pope Francis’s ability to bridge faith and science is truly inspiring. His scientific background allowed him to approach global issues like climate change with both intellect and compassion. His message of inclusivity and unity among religions is a much-needed reminder in today’s divided world. How can we apply his vision of harmony between science, faith, and humanity in our daily lives?
Pope Francis was truly a remarkable figure, blending faith and science in a way that resonated with many. His background in chemistry gave him a unique perspective on global issues like climate change and medical advancements. He consistently emphasized the importance of inclusivity and dialogue among different religions. His message of unity and responsibility towards the environment remains deeply relevant today. How can we continue to bridge the gap between science and faith in a way that honors his legacy?