Tuesday 22 April 2025
PM Modi Mourns Pope Francis' Demise
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Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi mourned Pope Francis by saying that “his affection for Indians will always be cherished.” PM Modi mourned the demise of Pope Francis on Easter Monday when he said in a social media post that he was "deeply pained".
"Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world," PM Modi wrote on X.
Sharing pictures from his meeting with Pope Francis, PM Modi said, "From a young age, he devoted himself towards realizing the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope. I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God’s embrace."Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the… pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2025
Pope Francis passed away at 88 on Monday, shortly after making a surprise public appearance on Easter Sunday. Despite recovering from a near-fatal illness, he delivered a message of peace and hope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, blessing thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square.
Pope Francis, who passed away after battling pneumonia, leaves behind a legacy of humility and reform during his 12-year tenure as the head of the Catholic Church. Known for refusing his papal salary, his net worth was estimated at $16 million, largely comprising assets linked to his position rather than personal wealth.
The Vatican had previously confirmed in 2001 that even as a cardinal, Pope Francis never accepted money from the Church, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to simplicity.
Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic church, died after complications from a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia, which had sent him to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for about two weeks beginning in mid-February.
His death brings to an end a remarkable 12-year papacy that began with his election in such historic fashion in March 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pope Francis became the first Latin American pope, as well as the first Jesuit pope. He immediately made headlines for living in an inexpensive and transparent way, and this was consistent with his papacy.
The most sensational aspect of his papacy was his refusal of a salary, which he was entitled to collect. The pope typically gets a monthly allowance that was reportedly worth about $32,000 per month. Pope Francis opted out of this salary as soon as he was elected. According to some sources from within the Vatican, the cash may have been sent to various charitable foundations, placed into trust for future use or paid to the church's use.
When he opted out of the salary, his net worth, as it turned out, was around $16 million, mostly consisting of funds associated with the role of pope. He had, for example, five official cars, living space provided by the Vatican, and a defined set of benefits related to the role. However, he did not accrue any personal property, which is consistent with the institutional use of the Church.
The Vatican had previously confirmed in 2001 that even as a cardinal, Pope Francis never accepted money from the Church, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to simplicity. His tenure was also marked by efforts to reform Vatican finances, address clerical abuse, and advance interfaith dialogue.
Despite the personal modesty of its leader, the Catholic Church itself remains one of the wealthiest institutions globally, with extensive holdings in real estate, artworks, and financial investments. However, Francis consistently emphasized moral over material wealth, often urging the Church to focus on serving the poor and marginalized.
As tributes pour in from across the globe, Pope Francis is being remembered not just as a spiritual leader but as a man who walked humbly and practiced what he preached.
From being first to take the name Francis to refusing Apostolic Palace, some interesting facts about the Reverend Pope Francis include:
The pope suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy. In the weeks before his death, he had been treated for chronic lung disease, including a respiratory crisis.
Pope Francis, the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88 on Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis became Pope on March 13, 2013, after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned. He has not been keeping well and was recently hospitalized, where doctors diagnosed a complex infection that developed into double pneumonia. The Pope suffered various ailments in his 12-year papacy. In the weeks before his death, he had been treated for chronic lung disease, including a respiratory crisis.
He was the first Pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first from South America, the first from the Jesuit order and the first to take the name Francis.
He believed in simplicity and refused the ermine-trimmed red velvet mozzetta, the gold pectoral cross and the pair of red shoes prepared for him. He kept his simple silver cross and well-worn black shoes.
He refused to live in the Vatican Palace and instead opted to stay in Domus Casa Marta.
Before becoming a Pope, he took some odd jobs, including being a bouncer.
"Tango comes from deep within me,” he had said in 2010.
Pope had lost part of his lung during his childhood due to a respiratory infection and had only one lung.
The Pope would sneak out of the Vatican from time to time. Once, he left the Vatican to personally visit an optician. There are some other similar incidents.
He helped in women's empowerment by appointing them to managerial roles in the Vatican.
"Let the children come to me," he would say. Children would approach the Pope during audiences.
He has millions of followers on social media platforms.
In his brief appearance, Pope Francis displayed remarkable resilience and hope, despite his health struggles.
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