It is a Christian virtue to offer one’s suffering for others. While recovering from medical treatment, Pope Francis continues to feel the global issues affecting us all, embracing and bearing the suffering of humanity as his own.
He has confronted, addressed, and promoted these concrete issues, fostering a pastoral spirit that benefits humanity, even in the face of criticism from world leaders and some Church officials.
Cleansing of the Church
The sexual abuse scandal severely damaged the Church. Pope Francis calls this “a terrible scourge in the Church.” He has focused on addressing the abuse of minors and the vulnerable as the core of his Church reform. He clearly stated, “the failure to act properly to halt this evil and to assist its victims has sullied our witness to God’s love” (Pope Francis, Address to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, 2023).
He has engaged in dialogue with victims of clerical sexual abuse, affirming, “the pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults” (Vatican News). Pope Francis calls for the active involvement of Church leaders in protecting minors and vulnerable persons within Church spaces, as well as in providing or facilitating justice and reparations for victims and survivors. He emphasizes, “in order that [the crimes of sexual abuse], in all their forms, never happen again, a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church…”
Migrants’ Concerns
Pope Francis has consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to the care of migrants, from those fleeing conflict in their home countries to those facing deportation. He emphasizes their inherent dignity, stating, “Migrants are not seen as entitled like others to participate in the life of society, and it is forgotten that they possess the same intrinsic dignity as any person” (Fratelli Tutti, 39).
While many subscribe to biased narratives about migrants, Pope Francis champions their cause. He recently condemned the mass deportations and threats against undocumented migrants in the United States, echoing the U.S. bishops’ support for these individuals. His pastoral statement urged: “I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters. With charity and clarity, we are all called to live in solidarity and fraternity, to build bridges that bring us ever closer together, to avoid walls of ignominy…” (Pope Francis, Letter to the Bishops of the United States, 10 February 2025).
Persistent Call for Just Peace to End Global Wars
Pope Francis insists on peace as the ultimate solution to wars across the globe. He advocates for real peace—a just peace grounded in addressing the root causes of conflicts, such as poverty, capitalist greed, and government corruption. He is frank and direct in calling for an end to the wars between Ukraine and Russia and between Israel and Hamas, as well as the regional conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He demands that countries and unified institutions stop supplying weapons of war, which perpetuate the catastrophic suffering of those affected.
He speaks on behalf of those who suffer from the effects of wars and conflicts. For him, any form of war is equivalent to evil. He states, “every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil” (Fratelli Tutti, 261).
Ecology from the Heart
He urges everyone to “hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” expressing compassion for the damaged planet and the injustice suffered by the most vulnerable. In his encyclical Laudato Si’, he articulated the urgent need to address the global environmental crisis, describing this as the Church’s “ecological dream.”
He continues to inspire movements and activists toward bolder commitments to protect both nature and people. As he emphasizes in Laudato Si’, “The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation… the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet…” (Laudato Si’, 48).
Transformative Politics
Criticizing political divisions as the root cause of social inequalities and increased suffering under ill governance, Pope Francis has called on political leaders to embrace the service of humanity. He insists on “a better kind of politics,” rooted in what he calls political charity: “This political charity is born of a social awareness that transcends every individualistic mindset: ‘Social charity makes us love the common good; it makes us effectively seek the good of all people, considered not only as individuals or private persons, but also in the social dimension that unites them’” (Fratelli Tutti, 182).
Involving Grassroots Churches
He places great hope in grassroots churches. By appointing and elevating cardinals with pastoral grounding in the peripheries, he has brought a more ‘human face’ to the once Italian-dominated College of Cardinals in the Vatican. These dedicated pastors from the Global South and impoverished nations include recent appointees such as Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of the Philippines, who tirelessly advocated for victims of the war on drugs during the Duterte regime, and Cardinal Fabio Baggio, a Scalabrinian priest dedicated to migrant concerns. These choices amplify the voices of the peripheries within the universal Church.
Common Solidarity Forwarding Ecumenical Dialogue
Pope Francis’s ecumenical approach is unique, as he initiates better methodologies to foster ‘real dialogue,’ extending his encyclicals and letters beyond the borders of the Roman Catholic Church. He embodies ecumenical dialogue through common acts of solidarity, emphasizing that “when Christians grow in the service of God and neighbor, they also grow in reciprocal understanding.”
Our Inspiration
While recovering from medical treatment, Pope Francis continues to inspire us to stand in solidarity with the least and the last. His prophetic commitment profoundly impacts us all. He is dedicated to cleansing the Church of sexual abuse, emphasizing protection and justice for victims. He advocates for migrants’ rights, condemning deportations, and urging solidarity. Pope Francis calls for just peace to end wars by addressing their root causes. He stresses ecological responsibility, urging action against environmental and social degradation. He promotes transformative politics, advocating for political charity and social awareness. He is bringing diverse voices into the Church’s leadership. His ecumenical approach fosters real dialogue and solidarity across Christian communities. Despite health challenges, Pope Francis brings hope and compassion to the world.
Jazeel “Tagoy” Jakosalem is a Filipino activist based in Madrid, Spain. He is the president of ARCORES International, an international church-based NGO engaging in development work supporting social projects in Latin America and Africa.
