ADEKEYE ADEBAJO: The poor people’s pope
Francis provided hope and succour to the destitute, downtrodden and desperate
Pope Francis I (Jorge Bergoglio) who died recently, was the first pontiff from Latin America and the first non-European in 1,300 years. The 88-year-old Argentinian’s 12-year papacy transformed the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church into one more inclusive of Global South perspectives, and 80% of the more diverse cardinalate that will shortly elect a new pope was appointed by Francis.
Pope Francis described himself as a callejero (a man of the streets), insisting: “My people are poor and I am one of them.” He thus declined to live in the plush Apostolic Palace, opting instead for a modest suite in the Vatican guest house. As a “Slum Bishop” in Buenos Aires, Francis had similarly given up his official residence for a modest room and travelled by public transport...
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