Farewell to Pope Francis: prophet of socio-environmental justice

23.04.2025.-It is with deep sorrow that we at Justice in Mining Network join the universal Church in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. His departure leaves us with a prophetic legacy that has marked a before and after in the way we live our faith, embrace justice as the way of the Gospel, and commit ourselves to the peoples and territories threatened by extractive logic.

Francis was not only the first Latin American pope; he was, above all, a spiritual leader who listened to the cry of the earth and the poor, who knew how to translate the Gospel into concrete gestures of solidarity, denunciation, and care. His encyclical Laudato Si’ was and continues to be a beacon that illuminates our mission: an urgent call to rethink the model of development based on the plundering of nature and the marginalization of entire communities.

He was a clear and courageous voice denouncing the sinful structures that sustain the extractivist logic, which, as he himself said, “does not prioritize human beings or the common good, but rather economic interests that exploit natural resources without any regard” (Address on the Day of Reflection: Mining and the Common Good, 2019). His words reached where others dare not go, recognizing the suffering of peoples who see their territories devastated by the greed of a few.

At Justice in Mining, we are immensely grateful for the support Francis gave to indigenous peoples and their territorial struggles. His constant denunciation of “irresponsible extractivism” was a prophetic gesture that encouraged us to keep going, even in difficult contexts. He knew how to name injustices, question the economic interests that devastate territories, and defend those who are often silenced or criminalized for raising their voices.

A Church that goes forth

But his legacy goes further. He transformed the way the Church understands itself: as a Church that goes forth, synodal, poor with the poor, dialoguing with the world from a place of compassion and commitment. He promoted a pastoral ministry that was incarnate, close to the peripheries, where the denunciation of injustices goes hand in hand with active hope. His way of exercising the Petrine ministry opened new paths of participation, listening, and community discernment, strengthening the prophetic dimension of our communities and works. Francis reminded us that it is not only a matter of preserving a faith, but of incarnating it in history, with its wounds and possibilities.

To celebrate his legacy, we would like to join the events organized on Thursday, the 24th, by the Communications Office of the General Curia of the Society of Jesus in Rome. It will be a press conference with Father Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General of the Jesuits, to reflect on the life, Petrine ministry, and legacy of Pope Francis.

This event will offer an opportunity to share memories of Pope Francis’ historic papacy, his spiritual leadership, and his unique impact on the Church as the first Jesuit pope.

Press conference

📍Location: Hall of the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, Borgo Santo Spirito 4, 00193, Rome

🗓 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025

🕒 Time: 11:00 a.m.

Later that day, everyone is invited to attend a memorial Mass offered for the soul of Pope Francis and in gratitude for his witness to the Gospel.

Holy Mass

📍Location: Church of the Gesù, Piazza del Gesù 54, 00186, Rome

🕒 Time: 7:00 p.m.

For those unable to attend in person, both the press conference and the Mass will be broadcast live on the Jesuits’ official YouTube channel.

Link to the press conference: https://youtube.com/live/lYAm1kRXf7M?feature=share

Link to the Mass: https://youtube.com/live/eP4jV7Guu7o?feature=share