A saying goodbye to Pope Francis: A Renewer of the Church and the people

Bonn | Bätzing: Church loses «Great Pope»

Bonn (dpa) - the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Georg Bätzing, recognized the late Pope Francis as a “great pope”, who was characterized by courage and renewal. In a message, Bätzing expressed his deep grief and emphasized the importance of Francis' commitment, which aimed to be close to people and reach the marginalized groups of society.

In his work, Pope Francis has set significant accents and opened new ways of coexistence within the church. Bätzing emphasized that the path to a synodal church initiated by Francis is regarded as irreversible, especially with regard to the impending general meetings of the world synod in 2023 and 2024. These initiatives show that the dialogue within the church is becoming more important.

Bätzing also described Francis as a bridge builder who promoted the pursuit of community and cohesion in the church. His ability to bring people together from different areas of life were valued by many. "We say goodbye to Pope Francis, the philanthropist and human fisherman," continued Bätzing.

Pope Francis' death marks a turning point in the Catholic Church. Many church representatives and believers worldwide will feel and reflect on to what extent their vision can continue to be implemented in practice. The challenges in front of which the church, such as questions of the community of faith and social integration, will now need a new ray of hope to preserve the teachings and the legacy of Francis.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the death of Pope Francis initiates a time of thinking and adaptation for the Catholic Church. The reforms inspired by him and the vision of a more inclusive church could be crucial for how the next generation of church leaders occurs and continues the legacy of its predecessor.