Death of Pope Francis: unanimous homage of the Arab world to a figure of peace and dialogue

Pope Francis, the first head of the Catholic Church from the South Global, was recognized for his deep commitment to interreligious dialogue, human dignity and the poorest. His disappearance aroused great emotion through the Arab world, where heads of state, religious and faithful leaders have hailed the memory of a man whose gestures of peace and fraternity have deeply marked the region, beyond confessional and political divisions.

A figure respected throughout the Middle East

During his pontificate, Pope Francis visited more than 60 countries, including several in the Arab world. His message of peace, solidarity and fraternity has often resonated there as a call to hope. In 2019, he became the first pope in 2019 to tread the ground of the Arabian peninsula, going to the United Arab Emirates, where he met the great imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb. Together, they signed the Document on human fraternitya historical text advocating mutual respect, peace and the rejection of extremism.

This initiative was widely praised by Muslim leaders. The Council of Muslim Sages, chaired by Ahmed Al-Tayeb, paid tribute to a “symbol of compassion” and to a “historical figure whose humanitarian heritage will inspire the generations to come”.

Dr Mohammed Al-Issa, secretary general of the world Islamic League, expressed his “deep sadness”, recalling their close collaboration and the impact of the Pope on Islamo-Christian dialogue. “He will remain in memories as a man of wisdom, a bridge builder between peoples,” he said.

Constant support in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine

In Lebanon, a country with a high religious diversity, President Joseph Aoun qualified François as “dear friend and faithful support”, recalling his repeated calls to protect “the identity and diversity” of the country. “He was still carrying Lebanon in his heart and in his prayers,” he said.

In Syria, Mgr Antiba Nicolas spoke of a pope who has never forgotten the Syrian people. “Whenever he spoke of Syria, he said: ‘My dear Syria’. He always called to support the Christian presence in the country,” he told Zaitoun Church to Damascus.

In Iraq, his visit in 2021 remains engraved in memories. The pope had met the great Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani there in Nadjaf, before praying in Mosul, in the midst of the ruins left by the war. President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid praised “a unique figure on a religious and humanitarian level, in the service of peace, poor and religious tolerance”.

A faithful ally of the Palestinian cause

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised “a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and his legitimate rights”, recalling that the Pope had recognized the state of Palestine and allowed his flag to be hoisted to the Vatican. In Jerusalem, at the announcement of his death, the bells of the Holy Sepulcher church resounded, while faithful in tears lit candles in his memory.

The day before his death, during his ultimate public appearance, Pope Francis had called from the Balcon of Place Saint-Pierre to a cease-fire in Gaza. “I appeal to the parties in conflict: stop fire, release the hostages, and help a hungry people who aspire to peace,” he launched in front of thousands of faithful gathered for Easter mass.

Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian theologian in Bethlehem, stressed that the Palestinians, “and in particular Christians in Palestine, have lost a real friend today”.

A universal voice of peace and humility

From Cairo to Baghdad, from Damascus to Beirut, via Gaza and Jerusalem, Pope Francis is unanimously hailed as a voice for the voiceless, a spiritual leader who was able to replace the human in the heart of the Church. Humble to the end, he preferred to be called “father” rather than “his holiness”, a choice that said a lot about his vision of power: service before prestige. His heritage-made of peace, social justice and fraternity-will continue to inspire the Arab world and far beyond.