Pope Francis remembered as a light of peace and mercy at Udupi interfaith tribute

At an interfaith memorial held on April 25, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi described Pope Francis as a radiant symbol of peace, love, and hope in a world often darkened by hatred and conflict.

The event, jointly hosted by the Udupi Catholic Diocese and the All-Karnataka Christian Human Rights and Ecumenical Forum, paid heartfelt homage to the late Supreme Pontiff, celebrating his legacy of compassion and humility.

Bishop Lobo emphasized how Pope Francis guided the Church with empathy and unwavering devotion to truth, particularly championing the marginalized and the poor. His papacy was marked by an unrelenting call for peace, justice, and environmental stewardship through landmark efforts like the encyclical Laudato Si’.

He recalled the Pope’s powerful gestures of mercy — visiting prisons, comforting refugees, and embracing the outcast — showing that divine compassion must reach even the forgotten. His enduring message: “The world is one family, and we are all brothers and sisters.”

Former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake hailed Pope Francis as a bridge between faiths, a leader who answered hatred with love and showed that the divine dwells within the suffering and the poor.

The gathering also mourned the loss of 29 civilians killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Dignitaries from across Christian denominations attended, with Fr Charles Menezes welcoming guests and Fr Leo Praveen D’Souza delivering the vote of thanks. Fr Denis D’Sa compered the solemn ceremony.

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