Tributes are flowing in from major Catholic organisations wishing to pay respects to Pope Francis, who died age 88 on Easter Monday.
Caritas, The National Catholic Education Commission, St Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Religious Australia are among those releasing statements mourning the late pope.
The Plunkett Centre for Ethics, The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons, and Catholic Social Services Australia have also passed on their respects.
Caritas said Pope Francis was a “supporter and inspiration” of Caritas Internationalis, of which Caritas Australia is a part, with Chair Robert Fitzgerald AM praising him as a “figure of enormous hope.”
“We pray that we will embody his mission of humble service to those in greatest need and to creation,” Fitzgerald said.
National Catholic Education Commission Director Jacinta Collins echoed these remarks, highlighting the Pope’s “unwavering commitment to education.”
“His belief in education as a tool for transformation resonates deeply with the mission of Catholic schools,” she said.
St Vincent de Paul Society’s Australian National President Mark Gaetani said the “spirit and ideals” of the Holy Father will continue to inspire people globally.
“Despite his pontifical authority, Pope Francis was an immensely humble person, dedicated to bringing Christ’s message to countries far from Rome, including in our region, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Indonesia, just last year,” he said.
“Inclusion was his lodestar, and he did much to bring ordinary people into the church.”
Catholic Religious Australia President Br Gerard Brady said Pope Francis “challenged the current global economic and social structures” which affect the world’s most vulnerable.
“He exuded a pastor’s patience and compassion amidst the everyday ‘chaos’ that so often characterises human living,” Br Brady said.
“He often led by way of concrete, practical gestures and was not afraid to depart from ecclesiastical protocol and to make extensive use of pastoral language to reach people’s hearts.”
Plunkett Centre for Ethics Director Dr Xavier Symons said the pontiff displayed a “deep personal commitment to the sick, suffering, and marginalised” in the world, and for those who cared for them.
“He showed great personal solicitude for doctors, nurses and religious working in healthcare, especially in isolated and developing regions of the world,” he said.
“Pope Francis leaves a significant contribution to the bioethical tradition in the teaching documents of his papacy, which reaffirmed the church’s traditional positions in an evangelical key.”
The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons Chair Moira Najdecki praised Pope Francis for leading the church into a “dialogue with the modern world” and accepting women into high level roles in the church.
“Perhaps Pope Francis’ greatest legacy will be the promotion of lay people, and in particular women, into positions of governance in the church,” she said.
“Allowing religious and lay people to have full leadership responsibilities has ushered in their much greater participation in the life of the church.”
Catholic Social Services Australia said the late pope “consistently challenged Catholics and people of goodwill to encounter those on the margins of society.”
“Pope Francis’ call for a ‘poor church for the poor’ has been a guiding light for our organisation and the countless Australians we serve,” CSSA Executive Director Dr Jerry Nockles said.
“We pray: Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”