Papa Francisco raised great enemies, but fought for the poor and immigrants, says Dom Joaquin at a press conference

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At a hasty conference on Monday (21), Bishop Dom Joaquin commented with regret about the death of Pope Francis, occurred in the early hours of the morning in Europe, around 7:30 am local time-1:30 am in Brazil. The news shook Catholics around the world and caused a commotion among faithful, religious leaders, and political authorities.

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“Everyone is moved, distressed. The Catholic Church has lost its main leader,” said Don Joaquin. The bishop pointed out that the death of the Pontiff took everyone by surprise, especially since in recent days he had been seen greeting faithful in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, showing apparent improvement in his health.

During the press conference, Dom Joaquin recalled Francis’ trajectory as Pope and defined him as a global leader committed to the most vulnerable. “He was a great defender of the poor, the migrants, the needy,” he said. He also highlighted the role of the pontiff in environmental and social causes, mentioning encyclical Laudato yesabout the care of the “ordinary house”, and All brotherswhich deals with fraternity among peoples.

Francisco, according to the bishop, was also a firm opponent of wars and disarmament, having dialogued with heads of state in search of peace. “He listed active conflicts in the world and always positioned himself for peace, trying to mediate conversations between nations and leaders,” he said.

Dom Joaquin still recalled the beginning of the pontificate, marked by a symbolic gesture that demonstrated its sensitivity to humanitarian causes. “He started going to Lampedusa, where they landed African migrants. There he denounced indifference to the deaths in the Mediterranean, which became a true migrant cemetery.”

“Great enemies”

The bishop of the diocese of Rio Branco also said that Francis raised great enemies.

“He also raised great enemies, who do not accept peace, who do not welcome immigrants. There were these contradictions throughout their lives and the human being is that, always in this struggle of good against evil. He always managed to maintain his line, coherence, with his conscience in God,” he said.

At the end of the press conference, the bishop expressed the feeling of mourning that dominates the Catholic community. “We feel this material and spiritual emptiness. We lose the great Pope of our Church, but we have faith that God has already rewarded him for his work, for his gestures, for his struggle in favor of the poorest, peace and human dignity. May his memory remain alive among us.”