[April 22, 2025] Most folks familiar with Pope Francis know that he was far more politically active and liberal than his predecessors. And perhaps that’s a positive thing, for it tells us where he stood and the moral good of liberal politics. Yet his passing on Monday morning, shortly after Easter, was unfortunate. I will be praying for his soul. RIP Pope Francis.
I’m not Catholic, but I can see how the church has fared under Pope Francis, and I believe many will say he did more harm than good. One criticism is that the Pope was more interested in making the Catholic Church more worldly than in making the world more Catholic-like, the latter being his sworn duty.
Others were less circumspect and claimed that Pope Francis was a slave to left-wing fashion. He supported open borders in the United States and called it a sin to send illegal immigrants back to their country of origin. And he was an advocate for Green Energy and halting CO2 emissions to prevent climate change. Regularly mixing these Progressive causes made it easier for many devout Catholics to shy away from the Church’s teachings. This was not good for Catholics or the world.
More than a decade ago, I wrote a kind article about his leadership and religious philosophy. Specifically, his stance against abortion was clear. He talked about “infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life.” This has been one of his most common themes … life and love. I think he has done an outstanding service for all humankind when he speaks on abortion. Many reject his pleas for the unborn because it is based on religion. Yet he transcends religion and appeals to us also on humanitarian grounds.
Pope Francis was certainly no Pope John Paul II. Many believe that Pope John Paul II will be remembered as one of the most effective Popes and most understanding of people in the last century. Known as Saint John Paul the Great, he was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 until he died in 2005.
The years since 2005 have been difficult for the Catholic Church. The world awaits the next Pope, and we all wish for a strong, compassionate, realist Pope to lead his flock into the next several decades.
RIP, Pope Francis.
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Pope Francis, RIP
Millions will miss his presence and his ability to make us feel at home with God.
Yeah, but ill-informed, destructive, and ignorant Leftist policy prescriptions are cancerous — whether they are held by a politician or a pope. And, I’d submit that a religious leader has the responsibility to at least educate himself on the issues, if he is going to use his influence and his office to promote certain policies. This is just another reason for Pope Francis to not stick his nose into something where he is clueless. Let Caesar have his due and stay out of things for which he knows nothing.
But he stocked the College of Cardinals with like-minded left-wing clergy. That was to help ensure that the leftward tilt of the papacy could continue.
Pray for his soul. Millions are doing so and we each can make a difference. He will be missed.
It is sad that anyone has to pass away because they are a soul that can make a difference in people’s lives.
Maureen, yes, and I do miss his steady hand in religious affairs. I only wish that his illnesses were less affecting his mental ability.
OUCH, “Others were less circumspect and claimed that Pope Francis was a slave to left-wing fashion. He supported open borders in the United States and called it a sin to send illegal immigrants back to their country of origin. And he was an advocate for Green Energy and halting CO2 emissions to prevent climate change. Regularly mixing these Progressive causes made it easier for many devout Catholics to shy away from the Church’s teachings. This was not good for Catholics or the world.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield is setting the record straight in this quote from the article. Let us not forget that Pope Francis was, however, in charge, so the Catholic Church moved with him. Now that he is gone, there are going to be a more gradual move to the conservative side. I’ve heard a rumor about the next Pope being from Africa, where they are much more conservative.
Yes, unfortunately, Pope Francis was advised to go into areas that were not his lane and into those areas where he had zero knowledge. He showed himself to be ignorant and that is not a good look for someone who presides over millions of Catholics.
TRUE. And unfortunate. But we did love him for the positive contributions he did make like standing firm against abortion.
Praise Pope Francis’ soul.
I’m not ripping on the dead, but Pope Francis claimed to be a champion of the poor, but the energy policies he advocated would have devastated poor people around the world:
I was not a fan of Pope Francis: too often, he substituted trendy but ill-informed leftism for theology. One of the many areas where he did this was energy and the environment; as so often happened, he had strong opinions but was woefully short on information. – John Hinderaker, PowerLineBlog writer.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/04/a-papal-postscript.php
More info to read at the link above. True, Fred, we are not bashing the dead, but Pope Francis’ answer to everything had a Leftist slant and one that would make the world’s poor that much poorer.
RIP Pope Francis . . . . You will be missed.
🙏 Randy, you and others have taken the proper moral high ground by hoping and praying that the now-deceased Pope Francis can rest in peace. So be it. I agree with your sentiments. But it should rightly be noted, before God and country, that this Pope stuck his compassion in places it did not belong. No one yet knows who the next Catholic Pope will be but let us 🙏 pray that he is a more reasonable and Godly, dedicated man. 🙏
I knew Pope Francis was ill. We will miss him.
Well said. I often found myself being mad about Pope Francis because he seemed to me to fall for all the Leftist talking points. I wanted him to focus on Catholicism and not on worldly ideologies. 🕷🕷🕷🕷
Many folks will criticize Pope Francis – God rest his soul – and perhaps their secular criticisms are correct in every way but Pope Francis, deep down, was a highly respected and religious, God-fearing man. He was a man. And being human means that he made mistakes and we are all flawed and also deserve deference. Pope Francis will continue to live in our lives through his works here on earth. RIP Pope Francis.
Well said, rj. He was a man and we men (and women) are all subject to be fallen in the eyes of God.
Pope Francis did not deter me because the Church Christ founded is stronger than any man on earth, even the Pope. Hope springs eternal. Thank you for all your good work! General Doug Satterfield is spot on with this post.
Hi lady Hawk. A similar post on another site said it well. By Jim Kay … “My prediction? The next Pope will be from Africa. If he is from Africa, he will be theologically conservative; African Christians (of various denominations) are a thorn in the flesh to their western counterparts because they are much more theologically/culturally conservative than the west. As to his secular beliefs, I have no idea.” PowerLineBlog
Indeed, he was different from Pope John Paul II.
The former Pope was a member of the “Liberation Theology” cabal that was condemned by both Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict. Let’s hope the Cardinals realize this is NOT the way to the future and they move more towards the center. Many Protestant Denominations have been hemorrhaging adherents due to their left leaning philosophies.