Debate contribution: Pope Francis
Debate contribution by Mr Maolíosa McHugh on .
- MLA
- Mr Maolíosa McHugh
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 28 April 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Assembly Business
- Heading
- Pope Francis
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4913242
Read the official Assembly record
Text
On Easter Sunday morning, I watched on television Urbi et Orbi, the customary papal address that is given to the world to celebrate Easter and the Resurrection. Although, owing to his failing health, Pope Francis had delegated the papal address to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, he blessed the thousands of people in St Peter's Square and the tens of thousands worldwide who watched on television. Not only did Pope Francis wish all who were present a happy Easter but he insisted on being taken amongst the people. He was taken through the crowds, waving to and blessing all who were in attendance. Pope Francis was a Pope of the people to his very last breath. Although the Pope's declining health was obvious, it still came as a shock to many when his death was announced on Easter Monday. During his 12-year tenure, the "people's Pope" was renowned for his humility, his devotion to his faith, his efforts to open doors in the Church to those who were previously ignored or shunned and his efforts to reach out to the marginalised, the dispossessed and the poor. Pope Francis was a Pope of peace. He had taken his message — the Christian message — to many corners of the world, where he met many political leaders, leaders of other faiths and those of no faith. It is ironic that, on the occasion of his funeral, a productive meeting between the American president and Zelenskyy, the leader of Ukraine, took place in pursuit of a ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. An end to that war was very dear to Pope Francis's heart, as was his desire for an end to the ongoing war in Gaza. Pope Francis showed his concern for immigrants: an issue that has worldwide implications. He criticised those countries that shunned migrants. The Pope said that people cross borders looking for a better life. Is that not what we all want for our children? Are we not all the same people? In 2018, when Pope Francis visited Ireland, my wife and I attended the papal mass in Phoenix Park, where I heard the Pope's words of encouragement when he asked us not to be indifferent to the less fortunate. That is something that he exemplified throughout his tenure as Pope and even on the day of his funeral, when he ensured that a special place was reserved for marginalised and homeless people amongst all the world leaders and dignitaries who were in attendance. As we say in Irish, ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.
We do, however, hope that whoever is appointed to be the next Pope will follow the same direction in which Pope Francis led his Church. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
458 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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