Pelosi Statement on the Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis

San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis:

“His Holiness Pope Francis personified our sacred responsibility in the Gospel of Matthew to honor the spark of divinity in the least of our brethren — championing the poor, the worker, the refugee and the immigrant.  He reminded us of our inescapable duty to those struggling to escape poverty and persecution in our communities and around the world.  Perhaps his most distinctive leadership will be his historic commitment to addressing the climate crisis.  In his ground-breaking encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis writes with beauty and clarity, with moral force and fierce urgency to call on all of us to be good stewards of God’s Creation.

“It is with immense sadness that Paul and I join our fellow Catholics and people of faith around the world in mourning the loss of Pope Francis: a beacon of charity, hope and love for all people of faith.  His Holiness rekindled the faith of Catholics worldwide, with a triumphant message of peace that has inspired a generation. 

“Personally, the loss of Pope Francis is devastating.  It was my high honor to attend his installation on the Feast of Saint Joseph in 2013 and to be in the House chamber during his historic address to the Congress in 2015.  In San Francisco, we take special pride in Pope Francis, as he shares the namesake of our City and honors the call of our anthem, the Song of Saint Francis, to be an ‘instrument of peace.’

“Many of us who met His Holiness know that he would always say, “Pray for me.” Now, we will pray to him and pledge to carry on his towering legacy.  May he rest in peace.”