Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday condoled the passing of Pope Francis, stating that he was a true servant of God whose transformative Papacy touched the world.
In a condolence message addressed to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, the Chief Minister described him as “The People’s Pope” whose humility, compassion, and simplicity redefined the role of spiritual leadership and resonated beyond the walls of the Vatican.
“He championed environmental stewardship through Laudato Si inspiring global action for our planet. The Pope’s advocacy for the poor, refugees, and victims of injustice reflected his unwavering commitment to mercy, dignity, and inclusion. His interfaith efforts, like the *Document on Human Fraternity”, and his advocacy for peace in conflict zones built bridges of understanding and unity across religious and cultural divides,” the Chief Minister said.
“Pope Francis’s legacy of compassion, joy, and justice will endure, guiding us toward a more loving and peaceful world,” he added.
The Archdiocese of Shillong mourned the passing away of Pope Francis.
In a statement Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh said that Pope Francis has been a true shepherd of God’s people, a champion for the cause of the poor and the marginalised.
“As the spiritual leader of the Church, he led it with spiritual wisdom, paternal love, humility and openness, always seeking to promote communion and good will among all peoples,” the Archbishop of Shillong said.
He said Pope Francis’s compassion for the poor, the least and the last and especially for those on the peripheries, such as the migrants and refugees, gained worldwide recognition.
“His love and care for Mother Earth, expressed in his Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si’, has become a global movement,” he said.
The state BJP also mourned the death of the Pope.
“Meghalaya BJP expresses its profound grief at the passing of Pope Francis and stands in solidarity with the Global Church, as well as with people of the state, a vast majority of whom are Christian, in this moment of grief,” the party’s state president Rikman G Momin said in a statement.
He said the Pope’s universal message of love continues to act as a beacon for people across all faiths.
Expressing grief over the Pope’s death, the Meghalaya Pradeesh Mahila Congress said he was a spiritual leader of immense compassion, wisdom, and humility, who inspired millions across the world with his unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and the dignity of all human beings.
“His voice echoed in the hearts of people far beyond the Catholic faith, touching lives through his tireless advocacy for the poor, the environment, and the marginalized. His life was a beacon of hope, and his legacy will endure for generations to come,” President Joplyn Scott Shylla said.
Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (COMSO) said Pope Francis was a shepherd not only to the Catholic faithful but a moral beacon to all humanity. “His life of humility, compassion, and tireless advocacy for peace and justice transcended borders, faiths, and nations. His voice echoed the eternal truths of love, forgiveness, and unity, which resonated with the conscience of the world,” the organisation said.
