(de-news.net) – Leaders of politics and the religious realm in Germany have expressed their condolences following the passing of Pope Francis. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier extended his condolences to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, observing that Catholics, alongside numerous Protestants in Germany, lamented the loss of a distinguished Pope and the immediate successor to Benedict XVI. Steinmeier underscored Pope Francis’s humility, spontaneity, humor, and profound faith, which resonated with individuals globally, offering them solace and guidance.
The German President further highlighted Francis’s unwavering commitment to the marginalized, displaced, and forgotten, demonstrating compassion and care from the inception of his papacy. He characterized Francis as a proponent of peace, firmly believing that such an ideal could only flourish through mutual respect, appreciation, and reconciliation among individuals of all kinds of beliefs and lifestyles.
Friedrich Merz, anticipated to assume the role of Germany’s next Chancellor, similarly conveyed profound grief over the passing of Pope Francis. He accentuated the Pope’s dedication to justice, reconciliation, and the vulnerable, guided by humility and a steadfast belief in divine mercy. Merz acknowledged that Francis, as the first Latin American Pope, profoundly impacted individuals across denominational boundaries, serving as a spiritual beacon.
Acting Chancellor Scholz stated that with the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world lose an advocate for the vulnerable. Scholz paid tribute to the late Pope as a reconciler, acknowledging his tireless dedication to faith, humanity, and fraternity. Through these efforts, Pope Francis provided strength, hope, and inspiration to people around the world.
Dr. Georg Bätzing, Chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, described Pope Francis as a courageous reformer of the Church’s mission and highlighted internal ecclesiastical reforms. The path towards a synodal Church initiated by Francis remains irreversible with the two General Assemblies of the World Synod in 2023 and 2024. Pope Francis was thus a bridge-builder who brought people together.
The President of the Central Committee of German Catholics, Irme Stetter-Karp, honored Pope Francis as the “Pope of Hearts.” His humility, along with his dynamic yet relaxed presence, was defining. Pope Francis opened “doors of change” wide, through which it is now the responsibility of the Church and the faithful to pass. From Francis’ successor, Stetter-Karp hopes for a focus on humanity, the global economy, climate, and social justice.
Other most notable political figures, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also expressed their sentiments, emphasizing Francis’s capacity to inspire millions beyond the confines of the Catholic Church. She emphasized that through his humility and pure love for the less fortunate, the late Pope inspired millions of people far beyond the confines of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The former Cardinal of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected on March 13, 2013, as the successor to the German-born, resigned Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first Latin American Pope. During his tenure, Francis advocated for new ways in the fight against poverty, acted as a diplomat for peace, and served as a proponent of ecological and social sustainability.