United Nations General Assembly Pays Tribute to Late Pope Francis

New York, April 29, 2025 — The United Nations General Assembly held a special commemoration on Tuesday, April 29, to honour the late Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. UN Secretary-General António Guterres led the tribute at the UN Headquarters in New York, praising the Pontiff for his unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and the dignity of the marginalised during his twelve-year papacy.

Guterres described Pope Francis as "a voice of peace in a world of war", lauding his role as a global spiritual leader and moral compass in times of division and crisis. “His Holiness Pope Francis was a man of faith and a bridge-builder among all faiths,” he said, recalling the Pope’s tireless efforts to defend the poor, speak out against injustice, and bring attention to the plight of migrants and refugees. He added that the late pope "was also a voice of community in a world of division" and "a voice of mercy in a world of cruelty".

The Secretary-General reflected on the Pope’s early ministry in the slums of Buenos Aires, noting how those experiences shaped his belief that “faith must be an engine of action and change”. He credited Pope Francis for drawing attention to systemic issues such as inequality, environmental degradation, and indifference, particularly through key documents like his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti and 2015’s Laudato si’, which influenced the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Guterres also highlighted Pope Francis’ symbolic first visit as Pope to Lampedusa in 2013, where he brought global awareness to the suffering of migrants.

Reflecting on his first encounter with the late Holy Father as Secretary-General in the Vatican in 2019, he said, "His humanity and humility touched me." He also noted that Pope Francis always viewed challenges through the eyes of those on the peripheries of life.

Even in his final days, Guterres noted, Pope Francis remained committed to advocating for peace, including through personal gestures such as regular calls to those affected by conflict, including civilians in Gaza.The Pope’s last Easter message called once more for an end to wars across the globe.

“He always saw challenges through the eyes of those on the margins,” Guterres said. “As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, let us renew our commitment to peace, human dignity, and social justice—the causes to which he dedicated every moment of his extraordinary life.”

The UN Secretary-General noted that Pope Francis had proclaimed 2025 as the “Year of Hope” and urged the international community to carry that message forward in memory of a Pope who lived as a tireless “messenger of hope”.

"As we mourn the death of Pope Francis," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded, "let us renew our commitment to peace, human dignity, and social justice—the causes to which he dedicated every moment of his extraordinary life."

Courtesy: Vatican News