With the passing of Pope Francis, the world lost a pope who put peace, bridge-building, social justice, the environment and climate on the agenda. The election of Pope Leo XIV gives us hope that he will continue on the same path.

With record-breaking crises, climate disasters, hunger crises and people on the move, the world is more unstable than in decades. At the same time, freedom of expression and human rights are under severe pressure, the gap between rich and poor is growing, while the willingness of many donor countries to help is declining. In such a world, the need for a reconciliation- and justice-oriented pope is greater than ever.

Migrants and refugees

As the Catholic Church's humanitarian organization is Caritas particularly concerned that Pope Leo XIV continues his commitment to environmental protection, the eradication of hunger, humanitarian protection for refugees and migrants. It was no coincidence that Pope Francis' first trip was to the refugees on the Italian island of Lampedusa. It reflected his deep love for humanity - especially for those who suffer the most. Subsequently, there were visits to various refugee camps and he invited families to the Vatican. The refugees are not just numbers, but people were his livestock.

Climate and rainforest

Climate change and hunger are important reasons why millions of people flee every year. This outraged Pope Francis, who through his encyclical Laudato Sí (2015) highlights the moral, social and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis. He called for sustainable development that ensures everyone has access to sufficient and nutritious food, and called for innovative solutions to transform the way we produce and consume food. Laudato Sí gave strength to the global climate movement and contributed to a major breakthrough at the Paris summit.

Pope Francis also campaigned for the preservation of the rainforest, calling the destruction of the Amazon a “crime” while calling for action to protect it. He also expressed great concern about the disastrous effects that mining, logging and agriculture are having on the rainforest and indigenous communities. Now that Pope Francis’s voice has fallen silent, we have strong hope that the commitment will be continued by Leo XIV. This is important - the deforestation of the Amazon and rainforests in Africa and Asia remains a major threat. The Catholic Church is, with Caritas , well positioned to make a difference in rainforest conservation. We have a network that reaches the most people – even in the most inaccessible areas of the Amazon borderlands.

Peace and reconciliation

We also hope that the commitment to peace and reconciliation will follow the new Pope. Pope Francis himself helped mediate the conflict between the government and the opposition in Venezuela. It has led millions of people to flee, as a result of great distress and poverty, from the oil-rich country. 

He was also a key spokesperson for the peace agreement signed in 2018 to end the five-year civil war between Sudan and what became South Sudan. When Pope Francis visited the country in 2023, he met with internally displaced people and called for dialogue and reconciliation. His visit was a human touch that brought hope and encouragement to the hard-pressed people. Now, the peace agreement is in jeopardy, as a result of the ongoing war in Sudan, and a reconciling pope is more important than ever.

Pope Francis left a world marked by unrest and conflict, but leaves behind a hope that his actions and words have inspired so much that it is continued and strengthened by Pope Leo XIV.