Embrace mourns the passing of Pope Francis

Embrace the Middle East mourns the passing of Pope Francis, a courageous global voice for justice, compassion, and peace. Throughout his papacy, he stood with those on the margins: the poor, the displaced, and the persecuted. His tenderness, moral clarity and unwavering commitment to the dignity of every human being resonated deeply with our mission and with the work of our partners across the Middle East.

Pope Francis had a heart attuned to the cries of the oppressed. From Lebanon to Syria, Iraq to Israel and Palestine, he never ceased to pray, speak out, and act on behalf of those suffering injustice, violence and poverty.

In recent months, he reached out repeatedly to the Christian community besieged in Gaza even calling them from his hospital bed. His pastoral heart refused to let their suffering go unseen.

In the face of the horror and destruction unfolding since October 7, his leadership has been a rare light. In his October letter to Middle Eastern Christians, he described them as “seeds of peace amid the winter of war” — a vision rooted in Christ’s call to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). His life was a living echo of those words.

As we give thanks for Pope Francis’s extraordinary witness, we pray: may he rest in peace. And may we all honour his legacy by continuing to stand alongside our brothers and sisters across the Middle East in love, hope and solidarity.