Statement on the Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis

21 April 2025

The Evangelical Fellowship of India expresses its profound condolences upon the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who entered eternal rest on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis made history as the first Jesuit and Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout his papacy, which began in 2013, he demonstrated an abiding commitment to the poor and marginalised, challenging global leaders to address economic inequality, climate change, and the plight of migrants with both courage and compassion.

Pope Francis brought renewal to the papacy through his authenticity and accessibility. His emphasis on faith expressed through practical action resonated with people across the world, across diverse religious traditions and with those who hold no religious beliefs.

We honour Pope Francis’s steadfast commitment to building bridges of understanding between different Christian traditions. His sincere efforts to foster dialogue and mutual respect created pathways for Christians to witness together in a fractured world while faithfully maintaining our distinctive theological convictions.

As the representative body of the evangelical community in India, we stand with our Catholic sisters and brothers in this time of loss. We pray for God’s wisdom to guide the College of Cardinals and all those who will shape the future of the Catholic Church in the days ahead.

In the bond of Christian love,

Rev. Vijayesh Lal

General Secretary

Evangelical Fellowship of India