Washington DC - Pope Francis dies at the age of 88 at his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta.
Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, who advises Vatican and Catholic Church leadership, releases the following statement on the passing of Pope Francis:
"Francis lived out his faith in a way that reminds us that we are called to love each other.
"One of the great gifts that Francis brought to the Church was his quick wit and sense of humor. He was determined to confront life's greatest problems with joy.
"Pope Francis built bridges to different faiths and people who had felt alienated from faith.
"As Pope he created a Church that was more transparent and that was more accessible to most of us.
"When I've been with Francis over the last year, I was worried about his health and the schedule he kept. He worked tirelessly and kept a schedule that a twentysomething couldn't keep.
"In spite of health concerns, he used every possible moment to build a more peaceful and inclusive world.
"Francis was in tune with past Popes on critical issues like debt relief and aid to end global poverty. That's why Francis made debt relief the social theme of this Jubilee Year.
"Francis lived out his faith in a way that reminds us that we are called to love each other.
"One of the great gifts that Francis brought to the Church was his quick wit and sense of humor. He was determined to confront life's greatest problems with joy.
"Pope Francis built bridges to different faiths and people who had felt alienated from faith.
"As Pope he created a Church that was more transparent and that was more accessible to most of us.
"When I've been with Francis over the last year, I was worried about his health and the schedule he kept. He worked tirelessly and kept a schedule that a twentysomething couldn't keep.
"In spite of health concerns, he used every possible moment to build a more peaceful and inclusive world.
"Francis was in tune with past Popes on critical issues like debt relief and aid to end global poverty. That's why Francis made debt relief the social theme of this Jubilee Year.
"As the former Catholic leader of his home country Argentina, he spoke differently than past Popes on the issues of debt and financial crisis because of his experience. In Argentina, he saw first hand the impacts of poverty and debt crisis on his people.
"The focus that Pope Francis announced for global debt relief and new processes to aid the poor for this Jubilee Year will continue as the central themes.
"During his address to the United Nations in 2015, Pope Francis listed debt and economic processes to ease poverty as the most important priorities for world leaders."
Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.
Read the letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network on following Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 focus here.
Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch for Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 call here.
"The focus that Pope Francis announced for global debt relief and new processes to aid the poor for this Jubilee Year will continue as the central themes.
"During his address to the United Nations in 2015, Pope Francis listed debt and economic processes to ease poverty as the most important priorities for world leaders."
Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.
Read the letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network on following Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 focus here.
Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch for Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 call here.