Faith groups mourn the death of Pope Francis

The World Communion of Reformed Churches and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA joined the global community in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a transformative papacy that touched the lives of countless people across faiths and continents.

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Pope Francis, who became the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to hold the office in 2013, spent more than a decade reshaping the global Roman Catholic Church with a focus on humility, justice, care for Creation and a deep commitment to the marginalized.

For the WCRC — a global body representing more than 100 million Reformed Christians across more than 230 denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — the pope’s death is not just the loss of a religious leader but of a fellow pilgrim in the journey toward a more just and compassionate world.

“Pope Francis was more than a leader — he was a witness,” said the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the WCRC, “a witness to God’s inclusive love, to ecological justice and to walking with the poor and the forgotten. He lived the Gospel in a way that resonated deeply with people of all traditions. His loss is felt around the world.”

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis spoke out consistently against systems of inequality, authoritarianism and environmental degradation. His encyclical Laudato Si’, published in 2015, challenged the world to reconsider its relationship with the planet, blending theology, science and ethics in a call for ecological conversion.

Nyomi described the pope as a “beacon of hope” in a world “constantly straying from God’s intentions,” noting his bold voice in standing up to powers that marginalize and exclude.

“Pope Francis’ voice was a steady challenge to injustice,” Nyomi said. “He reminded us that leadership in the church begins with service —particularly to the poor, the refugee and the ones often pushed to the margins.”

The WCRC has long worked alongside the Roman Catholic Church in ecumenical dialogue and mutual witness. In recent years, Pope Francis strengthened these efforts, often emphasizing the importance of Christian unity and dialogue over division.

The Rev. Najla Kassab, president of the WCRC and the first woman from the Middle East to lead a global Reformed body, offered a deeply personal tribute.

“As we celebrate the victory of Christ over death — even with the death of Pope Francis — we proclaim that death can never conquer the hope that the resurrection assures us,” Kassab said. “Pope Francis led the church with courage, humility and vision, inspiring believers around the world toward a synodal Church — a Church that listens, walks together and centers Christ.”

She also praised the pope’s commitment to young people, his compassion toward the marginalized and his pursuit of a Church that includes all at the table.

“He will be remembered for his lived love,” Kassab said, “for inspiring hope, for standing with those who are not always welcomed, and for dreaming of a better tomorrow.”

In a formal message of condolence addressed to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the WCRC extended its prayers and support to Cardinal Kurt Koch and Archbishop Flavio Pace, expressing solidarity with the Roman Catholic Church at this time of global mourning.

“Pope Francis reminded the Church of its calling to walk humbly, love boldly and act justly,” Nyomi said. “In his death, we are challenged to live into that same vision.”

As the bells toll and candles burn across the world, the WCRC joins millions in giving thanks for the life of a pope who walked gently, spoke truthfully and loved deeply.

“May he rest in God’s eternal peace,” Kassab said, “and may his legacy continue to light the way forward.”

The NCC says the pope’s light ‘shone for all people’

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA joins 1.4 billion Catholics and millions of other Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.  His light shone for all people — a beacon of compassion and hope for the marginalized, and a leader dedicated to his role as shepherd of the Roman Catholic Church. 

His outward display of love and compassion for all people earned him the moniker “The People's Pope,” a name well deserved by his many acts of kindness, charity and advocacy. Along with the faithful who looked to him for spiritual guidance, we thank God for his ministry among us these past 12 years and celebrate his witness to the world.

In a way, it is fitting that he should pass away, after a long illness, on the day after celebrating Easter. He lived and took each breath so that he might faithfully serve the Lord, and thus he goes to the Lord and enters eternal life after celebrating his resurrection. The significance of this moment is not lost on Catholic faithful around the world, nor is it lost on all people of faith and goodwill, especially all Christians, who this year rejoiced in the confluence of Easter on the same day and thus celebrated the resurrection together.

“During this time of transition, NCC is keeping the Catholic Church in prayer and encouraging our member communions and other Christians worldwide to do the same. In moments like these, our faith teaches us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and for that blessed assurance we give God praise,” said NCC President and General Secretary Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie.