Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
From the moment he stepped onto the global stage, Pope Francis stood out, not just as the first Jesuit pope or the first from Latin America, but as a man who truly lived what he preached. In Cyprus, his passing was met with sorrow and respect from both Catholics and non-Catholics, who saw in him a rare blend of humility, courage, and humanity.
Rev. Fr. Zaccheusz Mariusz Dulniok of the Holy Cross Church in Nicosia said the news of the pope’s death, coming just after Easter Sunday, hit the community hard. “The Catholic community, and even beyond it, were in tears when they heard of his passing,” Dulniok said. “Even though he had been suffering for a long time, it was a shock. I didn’t like Pope Francis; I loved him. He identified with the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten.”
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis chose simplicity over status. He famously opted to live in a modest Vatican guesthouse instead of the lavish papal apartments, honoring the Jesuit vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He was often seen as a pope of the people, approachable, down-to-earth, and deeply committed to social justice.
That sense of closeness was felt strongly in Cyprus during his visit in December 2021. Alongside a mass held at GSP Stadium that drew thousands, Pope Francis also held a smaller, non-denominational service at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Nicosia. In true Francis style, the gathering was modest and inclusive, attended by government officials, local residents, foreign workers, refugees, and people of various faiths. The readings were done by laypeople, including Mariamie, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and now a political science student at the University of Cyprus. The moment stood as another clear expression of his commitment to the marginalized.
Bernadette Koutsidou, known as "Berna" in the local Catholic community, met him in person. “I cried so much when I heard the news,” she said. “I felt he was really holy because when I went to greet him face-to-face, I couldn’t speak; I could only look into his eyes. He was the only one who called on people to help the refugees. After his visit to Cyprus, you see now many people trying to help in their own way because Pope Francis insisted.”
Elizabeth Kassinis, executive manager of Caritas Cyprus, said she admired his consistent defense of the poor and his call to embrace people of all backgrounds. “As a non-Catholic, I can say Pope Francis made it easier to do our job,” she said. “I loved and admired him for his courage and his concept of the ‘Culture of Encounter’, that we’re better off being in touch with one another, the poor, the marginalized, the people we don’t quite see eye to eye with; it’s compelling.”
Pope Francis often walked a fine line between tradition and change. His approach to LGBTQ+ individuals was a clear example; he supported blessing individuals in same-sex unions, though not the unions themselves, in a bid to show compassion while navigating Church doctrine. Some hailed him for it; others thought he didn’t go far enough.
He also advocated for allowing married men to become priests in remote areas where clergy were scarce, but this proposal was blocked by conservative factions within the Church. Still, Francis continued to challenge the status quo in other ways, including fostering closer relationships with other Christian denominations and Muslim communities. He called the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople a friend and made headlines with his bold visits to countries like Iraq.
His message went beyond religion. In 2014, he spoke openly about evolution and science, saying that “evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation,” and warned against imagining God as a magician “with a magic wand.” He urged people not just to believe in God but to live out their faith through good works and care for others and for the Earth.
“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth,” he once said, urging urgent action on climate change and environmental destruction.
Filipino communities in Cyprus held him especially close to their hearts. Zacarias Regalado, a Filipino worker who attended the papal mass at GSP Stadium in Nicosia, said, “He was the champion of the poor, a simple man anyone could approach. When he passed through the streets, we all came to cheer. We felt like he was one of us.”
That sentiment extended across religious lines. A Greek Orthodox priest in Nicosia said, “He was a humanist and a philanthropist. And he cared a lot for the downtrodden. He prayed for all people.”
In death, Pope Francis remained consistent with his life. He asked to be laid to rest with humility, in the Santa Maria Maggiore chapel, under a simple marker with only one word: Franciscus. A final nod to the saint he admired most, St. Francis of Assisi — the man who preached peace, simplicity, and care for the poor.
*To read the Greek version click here.
