The Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (CNWE) joins with Catholics in Canada and people around the world in deep sadness regarding the death of Pope Francis. In our mourning, we remember with profound gratitude Pope Francis’ humility and compassion, his faith-filled life of service, and his vision of a welcoming Catholic Church as a beacon of hope in the world.

During the 12-year papacy of Pope Francis, he sought to engage the issues of our time in a spirit of listening, dialogue and genuine ‘encounter’. From the outset, he inspired the world with his desire to live modestly, and in community with others at the Vatican.

Rooted in humility, Pope Francis’ approach to Church leadership was pastoral in nature and his vision for the Church was as a ‘field hospital’ where all, especially those marginalized by church and society, are welcome. Notably, his first trip as Pope was to Lampedusa to meet with migrants and he continually called out the decisions by some global leaders, that resulted in the inhumane treatment of migrants and refugees. For the symbolic foot washing ritual of Holy Thursday, Pope Francis chose to wash the feet of prisoners. He was the first pope to listen to the experience of the LGBTQ2S+ community who have been harmed by the Church, however church teaching did not change under his tenure.

Regarding the environment, Pope Francis wrote two groundbreaking documents (Laudato Si’ and Laudato Deum) highlighting the urgency of the climate crisis and its disproportionate effects on the most vulnerable. His message reminds humanity to see creation as God’s gift to be protected, rather than merely a resource to be exploited for the appetites of consumerism.

In terms of Indigenous reconciliation in Canada, Pope Francis made a ‘penitential pilgrimage’ in July 2022 to apologize on Canadian soil for the intergenerational harm and trauma of Catholic-run residential schools and to further the work of reconciliation with Indigenous, Metis and Inuit Peoples. While Pope Francis initiated further safeguards to rid the Church of the global scandal of clergy sexual abuse and coverup, much remains to be done.

Perhaps Pope Francis’ most notable legacy will be the Synodal Process he initiated in 2021 calling the church to become more inclusive of all. He invited global input from Catholics and from those who had left the church. These consultations culminated in prayerful, roundtable discussions at Vatican Synods in 2023 and 2024, where for the first time almost 20% of voting delegates were non-ordained women and men. It is our fervent hope that this vital work of renewal will continue and bear much fruit in the Church and in the world.

From CNWE’s perspective as a Canadian Catholic reform movement working for justice and equality for women in the Catholic Church since 1981, Pope Francis’ appointments of women to key Vatican roles, and as Synod delegates were significant first steps. We have been disappointed, however, that the continued practice of barring women from ordained ministries and from decision-making affecting women’s lives, contradicts church teaching on the equality of all members given in baptism. While Pope Francis critiqued a ‘culture of clericalism’ among clergy, he too appeared caught by the trap of historic and systemic sexism that pervades the institutional Church. The exclusion of women must be dismantled for the Church to become truly synodal.

Honouring the memory of Pope Francis calls Catholics to embrace his vision of a welcoming Church, rooted in Christ-like compassion, and open to prayerful dialogue and change to meet the challenges of our time. The blessing of his life and work calls people everywhere to pray and work for peace and reconciliation – in our families, communities, countries, among the nations of the world, and for the healing of our earthly home. In this Easter season of hope, may it be so.