The death of Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church is a major blow to progressive forces around the world. He clearly and forcefully championed courses to #free the #world from all forms of #racial #discrimination, including the #apartheid #colonial occupation of #Palestine, poverty, and religious bigotry.
It is significant that only 24 hours before his #death, Pope Francis called for an end to #Israeli #genocide in #Palestine. Even on his sick bed, the #Pope maintained regular contact with #Christians in #Palestine and continued his bold #advocacy for an end to the #Zionist colonial occupation of what he considered to be the #holy land. Perhaps, the most significant #declaration of the #Pope was his statement that one needs not be a #Christian to go to #Heaven.
This declaration was a bold attempt to place #Christianity within the logic of #history, #sociology, and #geography. The question within enlightened Christian circles was very simple – why should those who had no chance of knowing #Christianity be condemned to #hell just because they were born in some parts of the world or peculiar circumstances? The #Catholic Church, in spite of its worrying history, has produced liberating ideas and people with a commitment to #positive #change like #Liberation #Theology and #Pope #Francis. Our deepest #condolence to the Catholic Church and friends and family of an extraordinary #Pope.