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Pope Francis blessed tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Easter Mass on Sunday. A Vatican aide delivered a papal speech on his behalf.Credit…Yara Nardi/Reuters
To the Editor:
Re “Groundbreaking Pope Reshaped the Church” (front page, April 22):
As a Muslim, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Growing up, I attended a Catholic primary school. This may seem unusual, but I never felt out of place. Those formative years gave me an invaluable insight into the values common across all faiths: compassion, charity, humility and service to others.
Pope Francis embodied those principles. He consistently showed sympathy for those suffering under the weight of warfare, persecution and injustice. He used his platform to speak out for the poor and the marginalized, and to build bridges across religious divides. At a time when division often dominates headlines, he reminded the world that faith can be a force for unity and healing.
Malik Fraz Ahmad
Bradford, England
To the Editor:
Pope Francis was a well-meaning man, but did his voice make a difference to the lives of the voiceless, or was he simply a mouthpiece for the Roman Catholic Church’s mission of self-preservation?
After all, as the church loses ground in the wealthier societies around the world, the Vatican relies on growing the Catholic flock among the impoverished nations. Proselytization is a key element in that strategy. Is it therefore any surprise that its message is designed to appeal to the poor? If we are brutally honest, we must ask: What do these words of care and concern for the impoverished mean, and what have they changed?
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The Roman Curia, the administrative body of the Vatican, ensures that even with the best of intentions, the pope does not stray far from the church’s own interests of affluence and influence. Pope Francis was a kind, well-intentioned man, but also a hard-working cog that helped keep that wheel spinning.
Anil Bhalla
New York
To the Editor:
As we remember Pope Francis, let us express our gratitude for his brave stance in criticizing President Trump and his actions against the people of the United States and the world. The pope’s message of love, peace and charity is anathema to the policies of the current president and his administration.
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