Pope Francis: A legacy of hope, compassion, and environmental stewardship

As he prepares to travel to Rome for the Pope's funeral, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of Fiji reflects on the late pontiff's concerns about climate change and resource exploitation affecting the Pacific.

Archbishop Chong says Pope Francis went beyond words and took action to address critical global issues.

He highlights the pope's deep concern for Pacific nations' vulnerability to climate crises and the exploitation of their resources.

Born in Argentina, Pope Francis, the head of the global Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88.

He died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after suffering a stroke and subsequent heart failure, as reported by his office.

Over one billion Catholics are mourning the loss of their leader, with tributes flooding in from around the world, including the Pacific region.

In an interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Chong says that a papal visit to Fiji had been planned but was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He joined Pope Francis on his trip to Papua New Guinea last year. In his message of condolences, the archbishop expressed how deeply he was touched by Pope Francis’ ministry during their time together in Port Moresby in September 2024.

Chong, who will attend the Pope's funeral in Rome on Saturday, says one of Francis' key messages for Pacific people was to protect their natural resources from unfair exploitation by foreign companies.

Pope Francis lies in state in the private chapel in Casa Santa Marta before his body is taken to St. Peter’s Basilica late Wednesday (NZ time). Phoro/VaticanMedia

He says Pope Francis delivered a message of hope and challenge to the people of Oceania, emphasising that while the region may be distant from the rest of the world, it is at the centre of God’s heart.

The archbishop says the pope’s care for the ocean aligns with scientific perspectives that emphasise the sea as a vital ecosystem that must be preserved.

He recalled the pope's assertion that "these goods are destined by God for the entire community", suggesting that the wealth generated from natural resources should benefit all people and not just a select few.

In 2015, Pope Francis joined with the Catholic Church in ecumenical, Eastern Orthodox-led efforts to celebrate World Day for Creation on 1 September and the Season of Creation, which continues until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi.

Chong says the late pontiff gifted people with his presence. He adds that Francis' vulnerability and closeness to individuals were key themes he learned during the pope's visit. He says the Pope would move around in his wheelchair with humour, joy, and comfort.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, right, and Pope Francis. Photo/Supplied

Tributes continue to pour in for the late pontiff. World leaders and church hierarchy, including New Zealand’s Cardinal John Dew, who will help elect the new pontiff, remember Pope Francis as humble and politically astute.

The Pacific Conference of Churches, an ecumenical organisation of Christian churches in the region, described Pope Francis as "an inspiration".

"His ecumenical spirit and commitment to social and ecological justice, and in particular, leadership grounded in compassion for the vulnerable, 'the least' among us, were an inspiration and will be a legacy for the Pasifika Household," Reverend James Bhagwan wrote.

US President Donald Trump also expressed his condolences in a brief online post: "Rest in Peace, Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!"

Watch the faithful in Port Moresby anxiously await the "Holy Father's" arrival in Papua New Guinea in September 2024 for the second leg of his 45th Apostolic Journey.

Britain's King Charles III, who met privately with Francis on 10 April during a royal visit to Italy, praised the late pope for his efforts in safeguarding the environment. "Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many."

Argentina's President Javier Milei referred to the South American country as "the land of Pope Francis" and highlighted the "tireless struggle of Francis' papacy to protect life from conception, promote inter-religious dialogue and bring a spiritual and virtuous life closer to young people".

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, says Francis will be remembered for his outreach to those on the margins of the church and society. "He renewed for us the mission to bring the Gospel out to the ends of the earth and offer divine mercy to all."

Stephen Cottrell, the acting head of the Church of England, remembered Francis as "witty, lively, good to be with, and the warmth of his personality and interest in others shone out from him".

Watch Archbishop Peter Loy Chong's full interview below.

Riccardo di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, told local media that Francis had opened a new chapter in relations between Judaism and Catholicism, describing the dialogue as "sometimes difficult but always respectful".

Theophilos III, the patriarch of Jerusalem, joined in mourning the late pontiff. "Pope Francis' life was a luminous testament to the Gospel, a tireless witness to Christ’s boundless mercy, a steadfast champion for the poor, and a beacon of peace and reconciliation among all peoples," he wrote in a statement.

Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday at 10am (Rome time)and 8pm (NZ time). His body will lie in state at St Peter’s Basilica from late Wednesday (NZ time), following a procession and prayer service beginning at 9am, local time (7pm NZ time).

The Catholic Archdiocese of Auckland encourages everyone to pray as the Church enters nine days of mourning for the repose of Pope Francis' soul.