Farewell Brother Francis II :What the Western Media Overlooked About the Late Latin Pope of Rome "Updated"

I honestly didn’t know what to write this Sham El-Nassim, as the genocide in Gaza continues to unfold.

I certainly never imagined that on Easter Monday, I’d spend nearly half the day glued to the screen, following global reactions to the death of Pope Francis II.

In case you’ve been completely offline, Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican confirmed his death was due to a stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 1936-born was the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, serving since 2013.

According to most international media outlets, his papacy was marked by humility, a focus on social justice, and outreach to marginalised communities. He was also known for taking bold stands on climate change and economic inequality, reflecting his Jesuit roots.

That’s the version most Western media tells you.

However, they often overlook the truly exceptional qualities that made Pope Francis II a singular figure in modern Church history.

He was perhaps the first head of the Catholic Church to deeply and sincerely believe in interfaith coexistence—particularly with the Islamic and Arab worlds.

He recognized Palestinian Christians at a time when much of the West ignored them, refusing to acknowledge them as victims of Israel’s ethnic cleansing.

Pope Francis at the 'Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,' upon its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall
at St Peter's Square, in the Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on December 7, 2024. (AFP)

In what turned out to be his final sermon on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Though he did not read the homily himself—it was delivered by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies—the world understood: this was his last message, spoken in his final 24 hours.

And it mattered. It forced the media, even if only briefly, to turn its gaze back to the tragedy unfolding in Gaza.

“I express my closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. The growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world is worrisome. Yet at the same time, I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.

I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspire to a future of peace!

Let us pray for the Christian communities in Lebanon and in Syria, presently experiencing a delicate transition in its history. They aspire to stability and to participation in the life of their respective nations. I urge the whole Church to keep the Christians of the beloved Middle East in its thoughts and prayers.

I also think in particular of the people of Yemen, who are experiencing one of the world's most serious and prolonged humanitarian crises because of war, and I invite all to find solutions through a constructive dialogue.”

What struck me most was the part of his final Easter message that focused on the Middle East—beginning, as it should, with the suffering of Palestine.

Throughout the Gaza war, Pope Francis II stood out as one of the very few global leaders who offered genuine support to the Palestinians.

His solidarity was not symbolic—it was deeply human and persistent, right up until his final days.

Even while hospitalized, he remained in contact with Catholic Palestinian families sheltering in the Holy Family Church in northern Gaza.

In a now widely circulated video dated January 22, 2025, Pope Francis made a heartfelt phone call to the church, speaking directly with Father Yusuf Asad and parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli.

Despite his deteriorating health, the late Pope Francis called Gaza every single day. In this video from January 22, 2025, he phoned the Holy Family Church in Gaza, speaking with Father Yusuf Asad and parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. The conversation was brief but… pic.twitter.com/Panjsz4Adi

— Translating Falasteen (Palestine) (@translatingpal) April 21, 2025

As the Israeli bombardment of Gaza intensified, Pope Francis would sometimes call three, four, even five times a day—just to check on them, to offer comfort, to make sure the world had not completely turned its back.

When Israeli bombing against Gaza intensified, Fr. Romanelli says Pope Francis would call “three, four, five times on the same day.” pic.twitter.com/ZIa4ZtHd2n

— chunguskitten (@chunguskitten) April 22, 2025

And I couldn’t help but think: I wish Arab leaders did this. I wish Muslim leaders did this. I hope they still can.

I can’t forget when he visited the Nativity scene last Christmas, where the baby Jesus was adorned with a Palestinian keffiyeh.

Pope Francis at the 'Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,' upon its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall
at St Peter's Square, in the Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on December 7, 2024. (AFP)

The Pope was seen in a wheelchair, praying before the scene during its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall. The Nativity scene, titled “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,” was designed by Palestinian artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi and featured the keffiyeh as a symbol of Palestinian identity.

Though Vatican officials later removed it, the message had already echoed powerfully around the world.

It is not only Palestine and Gaza but also his relations with the Muslim world, especially his unique relationship with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb.

It wasn’t just Palestine and Gaza that defined Pope Francis II’s moral legacy—it was also his extraordinary relationship with the Muslim world, particularly his unique and warm connection with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb.

Western mainstream media largely overlooked this incredible relationship, at a time when celebrating such bridges between faiths is more needed than ever.

For the first time in Al-Azhar’s long and storied history—the oldest and most influential Sunni Islamic institution—its Grand Imam publicly mourned the head of the Catholic Church in Rome with sincere warmth and reverence.

Today, the World Has Lost a Distinguished Symbol of Humanity: His Holiness Pope Francis
Today, the world bids farewell to a distinguished humanitarian and dear friend, His Holiness Pope Francis, the Pope of the Catholic Church, a man who dedicated his life to serving humanity,…

— أحمد الطيب (@alimamaltayeb) April 21, 2025

El-Tayeb published this mourning statement in four languages. 

Their relationship began on 23 May 2016, when Sheikh El-Tayeb officially visited the Vatican—the first ever such visit by a sitting Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. It was a groundbreaking moment: never before had the highest authority in Sunni Islamic scholarship met a sitting Pope in the Vatican.

At the time, relations between Al-Azhar and the Vatican had been frozen for nearly five years, following controversial remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI about Islam in 2006 and again in 2011, which prompted Al-Azhar to suspend interfaith dialogue.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb receiving the Medallion from 
late Pope Francis II on 23 May 2016. "AFP"

During the visit, the Pope gave the Grand Imam a Medallion of the olive tree of peace, and a copy of his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si'.

Laudato si' ("Praise Be to You") is a major teaching document by Pope Francis, subtitled On Care for Our Common Home. In it, he criticised consumerism and reckless economic development, highlighted environmental degradation and global warming, and urged people everywhere to take "swift and unified global action."

That famous shot became viral in Egypt since then. In that shot, Sheikh El-Tayeb received 
a copy of his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si'. "AFP"

Pope Francis personally revived that dialogue, reaching out with his message of mutual respect and his now-famous philosophy of promoting a “culture of encounter.”

On 28 April 2017, during his first visit to Egypt, Pope Francis II became the first Pope in history to set foot inside Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

Pope Francis II and Sheikh El-Tayeb in Al-Azhar, Cairo on 28 April 2017
(Getty Images)

There, alongside Sheikh El-Tayeb, he launched the International Peace Conference, a significant moment for Muslim-Christian relations.

Their bond deepened over the years. In October 2018, El-Tayeb paid a private visit to Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

Pope Francis receives the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in the Vatican on October 16, 2018.  
FYI, I have never seen Ahmed El-Tayeb hug any Arab or Egyptian official like that

Then, in February 2019, they signed the landmark “Document on Human Fraternity” in Abu Dhabi—a major milestone in global interfaith dialogue.

It was also the first time a Pope had ever visited the Arabian Peninsula.

Pope Francis and Sheikh El-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi in February 2019

Pope Francis celebrated a public Mass attended by over 100,000 people—the largest Christian gathering in Gulf history.

In November 2019, the two leaders met again in the Vatican to discuss implementing the Document’s goals and expanding cooperation between their institutions.

In the November 2010 meeting at the Vatican. "Vatican News"

Their shared journey continued: in November 2022, Pope Francis visited Bahrain, where he reunited with Sheikh El-Tayeb at the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue, promoting interreligious understanding across the region.

Francis and El-Tayeb in Bahrain in November 2022, "Bahraini News Agency"

Then, in a historic move in June 2023, both religious leaders addressed the United Nations Security Council, calling for the protection of human dignity and advocating for peace through the spirit of fraternity.

Al-Azhar Official Newspaper "The Voice of Al-Azhar" mourned Francis II, calling him "Our Brother Francis".

This shows you what Francis II achieved in the Arab Muslim World. 

It was deeply disappointing also to see how Western media largely ignored the relationship between the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church and the Vatican—a relationship that has been nothing short of historic for both Churches.

Since assuming their respective roles in 2013, Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II have met on at least four significant occasions.

Their first meeting took place in May 2013, when Pope Tawadros visited the Vatican—marking the first visit by a head of the Coptic Orthodox Church to the Vatican in 40 years.

The first meeting after both had become the Pope earlier that year.

On that occasion, Pope Tawadros proposed that May 10 be designated as the “Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship,” a tradition both Churches have observed annually ever since.

In April 2017, during his apostolic visit to Egypt, Pope Francis made history by visiting the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate—the first time a Roman Catholic Pope had ever done so.

The two popes, the Holy See of St. Peter and the Holy See of St. Mark at
St. Mark Cathedral in Cairo in April 2017

There, he met Pope Tawadros II and the two leaders signed a joint declaration affirming their shared Christian faith and their commitment to ongoing theological dialogue.

Most notably, they agreed to mutually recognize each other’s sacrament of baptism—a groundbreaking step that, while widely applauded, also provoked backlash among some ultra-conservative Coptic Orthodox circles.

I don’t know for certain what the reaction was on the Catholic side, but I can imagine that some traditionalist Catholics may have felt the same unease.

During the visit, Church leaders from across the Middle East—led by Pope Tawadros II and Pope Francis—gathered to pray for the people of Egypt, for unity, peace, and justice.

The prayer took place in St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, the chapel adjacent to Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, which had been tragically bombed in December 2016.

In July 2018, Pope Tawadros II travelled to Italy to participate in an ecumenical day of prayer for the Middle East, organized by Pope Francis.

Most recently, in May 2023, the two Popes commemorated the 50th anniversary of the historic 1973 meeting between Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III.

Yes, the Prayer was held at St.Peter Square in May 2023.
 I do not think this scene will be seen easily
 (Vatican)

Pope Tawadros joined Pope Francis in Rome for a general audience, private discussions, and a joint prayer service—further deepening their commitment to Christian unity.

Importantly, that dialogue helped pave the way for something many considered long overdue: the unification of the Easter date between Eastern and Western Churches. Historically, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has been responsible for determining the date of Easter each year, a duty it inherited following the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

As Pope Tawadros II explained earlier this year, this responsibility traces back to Pope Alexander of Alexandria, one of the council attendees, and to his successors like Pope Athanasius. The Church continues this tradition by sending an Easter Letter annually to churches around the world.

Pope Tawadros also noted that the Church of Alexandria has historically used three criteria to determine the date of Easter: It must fall after the spring equinox, it must come after but not during or before the Jewish Passover, and it must fall on a Sunday.

A key difference between East and West lies in the calendars they follow: the Eastern Churches use the Julian calendar, while the Western Churches follow the Gregorian.

The Western Church, Pope Tawadros remarked, often determines Easter without regard for the Jewish Passover, whereas the Eastern tradition preserves that symbolic connection.

This year, in 2025, both Eastern and Western Churches celebrated Easter on the same day—and I truly believe this should be seen as one of Pope Francis’ greatest interfaith and ecumenical achievements.

“I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible! From the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Resurrection, where this year Easter is being celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox on the same day, may the light of peace radiate throughout the Holy Land and the entire world.”

Francis said in his last sermon.

And it’s worth noting this wasn’t the first time it happened under his papacy—it also occurred in 2017.

A little trivia: Despite his political views, Pope Tawadros II is considered part of the progressive current within the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Now, I can’t speak about Pope Francis without mentioning his visit to Egypt.

He was the second Pope to visit the country after Pope John Paul II. On the 26th and 27th of April 2017, Pope Francis made his historic visit to Egypt. 

From the Papal residence at the Vatican Embassy in Cairo's Zamalek 
"Yes, they did not even renovate the balcony and I feel offended now" 

I remember how he faced criticism at the time, particularly concerning the Egyptian regime’s human rights record. His visit also reopened old debates about his role during Argentina’s “Dirty War” (1976–1983), when he was the head of the Jesuit order in the country.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as he was known then, came under intense scrutiny for his perceived inaction—or even alleged complicity—regarding the regime’s brutality. He was accused of indirectly cooperating with the military junta, including allegedly facilitating the arrest of two Jesuit priests who were later tortured and disappeared.

This controversy eventually led to what many consider demotion. In 1976, he was removed from his position as the Jesuits' provincial superior in Argentina and reassigned as a parish priest in a poor neighbourhood. Effectively sidelined for nearly two years, this period of isolation and reflection is said to have profoundly reshaped his character and leadership style.

Returning to Egypt in 2017—amid the peak of terrorist threats—his visit sent a powerful message: Egypt is safe for Christians. The Egyptian government certainly viewed it as a triumph, a gesture of recognition. 

I just want to know what the Pope was thinking when he saw the Egyptian Naval Special Forces
protecting him from the Nile like that but I think he was used to that 

But in my opinion, the Egyptian regime was already recognized; this was not a mere PR visit.

Now, in 2025 and following the death of Pope Francis, what I remember most from his Egypt visit is not the meetings with political officials, but rather his historic encounters with Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb of Al-Azhar and Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria.

That visit opened rare channels of dialogue between Rome, Al-Azhar, and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria—bridges not seen for centuries amid mutual suspicion and theological rivalry.

Yes, Pope Francis supported migrants and believed the Church should not close its doors to LGBT individuals—stances that enraged the alt-right, especially during the Trump era. But his bold pursuit of coexistence with Islam was equally provocative to those same circles.

This is another part of Pope Francis’s legacy that Western media has largely ignored. Whether deliberately or not, the neglect of such a monumental interfaith breakthrough worries me. It feels as though the old windows of the Vatican—just recently opened to let in winds of change—may soon be shut again.

Pope Francis gave the Vatican more than a makeover. He breathed life into an institution long seen as one of the world’s most rigid and bigoted. Now we await the conclave. Will the cardinals continue his path of reform, or will the Vatican return to its old, insular ways?