Pope Francis, a Champion for Justice and Peace, is Mourned Across Africa
Pope Francis passed away at his home on April 21, 2025, ending an important chapter for the Vatican and the 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Pope Francis was chosen head of the Catholic church on March 13, 2013, making him the first pope from the Americas and the first outside the west in modern times.
Africa will be deeply affected by the pontiff’s legacy. Three things are particularly noteworthy. First, by speaking out against global inequality, neo-liberal capitalism, ecological injustice, colonialism, imperialism, and the rich’s abuse of the poor, he represented the concerns of the people on the continent. Pope Francis began speaking out in support of Africa.
He urged African nations to ensure that all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status, had access to land, housing, and employment. Pope Francis was inspired by the liberation theology that emerged in Latin America and, in a way, he personified the message of decolonisation. This theology linked religious belief to the emancipation of individuals from systems of violence and injustice. Second, he urged African Catholics to create their own distinctive pastoral lifestyle and approach to resolving societal concerns in Africa. Pope Francis, in particular, supported local procedures and decentralisation to address regional issues. He frequently stated that the pope, at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, does not have to resolve every issue within the church.
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