Media Release

Udupi, Apr 21: The diocese of Udupi has expressed its mourning for the sad demise of the Holy Father Pope Francis and has prayed that God may grant him eternal reward for his life of commitment in the service of the church and the Lord.

In a press statement released Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop diocese of Udupi said “As the 266th successor of St Peter, Pope Francis led the Universal Church with humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel. His papacy was marked by a tireless pursuit of peace, justice, care for the poor and love for creation. He became a beacon of hope in a world often clouded by division, reminding us that mercy is the very heart beat of the Church”.

“Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, brought to the papacy the spirit of a missionary disciple, a pastor who embraced the poor, the forgotten, and the wounded of our world. From the very first moments of his papacy on March 13, 2013, he invited us to live the joy of the Gospel, calling the Church to go out to the peripheries, to listen with compassion, and to serve with humility” he added.

His teachings challenged us to rediscover mercy as the name of God, to care for our common home, to walk together in synodality, and to witness to the dignity of every human person. He was a voice for the voiceless, a bridge-builder in a fractured world, and a living sign of God's tenderness in an often-indifferent age”.

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis reminded us that prayer, not power, is the heart of Christian life. His quiet moments of prayer - whether before the Blessed Sacrament, at the tomb of St Peter or in desolate St Peter's Square during the pandemic spoke volumes. In word and gesture, he reflected the face of Christ to a world in need of healing.

His unwavering concern for the poor, the migrant, the elderly, and the abandoned was not mere sentiment but a Gospel imperative. His encyclicals Evangelii Gaudinm, Laudato Si, and Fratelli Tutti offered a bold and prophetic vision for a more just, merciful, and united human family.

As we entrust his soul to the boundless mercy of God, we offer our prayers in thanksgiving for his fatherly guidance and enduring witness. May the Lord whom he served with such love now welcome him into eternal joy, where he will behold the face of the Good Shepherd whom he so faithfully imitated”.

Along with the Bishop Most Rev. Gerald Lobo, Clergy, Religious and all Lay Faithful, the Diocese of Udupi mourns the sad demise of the Holy Father and prays that God may grant him eternal reward for his life of total commitment in the service of the Church and the Lord. 

Following the passing of Pope Francis, the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church, clergy from the Diocese of Udupi have expressed profound sorrow and offered heartfelt tributes, praising his life of selfless service and inclusive vision for the Church and the world.

Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, vicar general of the Diocese of Udupi, expressing his mourning, said: “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and the most marginalised. We pray that God may reward him for his beautiful life of commitment to the Lord especially during his Papacy.”

Fr Denis D’Sa, public relations officer of the Udupi Diocese, expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Pope Francis, the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church.

In his statement, Fr Denis D’Sa said that with the passing of Pope Francis, the world has lost a true messenger of peace. He noted that Pope Francis provided meaningful leadership to the Catholic Church by taking bold decisions in the areas of human values, religious harmony, and environmental protection.

He highlighted Pope Francis’ humility, openness, compassion for the poor, concern for social justice, and emphasis on interfaith dialogue. Despite being rooted in traditional doctrine, the Pope conveyed a progressive and inclusive outlook to the world.

He further stated that Pope Francis firmly stood against unchecked capitalism, consumerism, and unregulated development. Instead, he promoted the values of love and charity. He persistently called for urgent action against climate change and made earnest efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Fr Denis D’Sa remarked that the Pope’s people-centric approach was widely appreciated by all.