Pope Francis mirrored the heart of Jesus, says Indian cardinal

Pope Francis mirrored the heart of Jesus and was committed to the poor, says an Indian cardinal.

In him, the world saw “a shepherd after the heart of Jesus—simple, sincere, and tirelessly committed to the poor, the forgotten, and the wounded,” said Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, south India.

According to him, Francis’ death “marks the end of a profoundly significant chapter in the life of the Church.”

“His [Pope Francis’s] pontificate was a living Gospel, echoing the mercy of Christ and extending the embrace of the Church to the peripheries of the world,” the cardinal said.

The world remembers Francis as the pope who dared to dream of “a Church that is poor and for the poor,” the cardinal said.

“Francis did not merely speak of synodality, mercy, and dialogue—he lived them. He bravely unlocked doors that had been previously closed. He reminded us that the Church is not a fortress but a field hospital,” Poola said.

The pope’s “words and gestures rekindled hope among refugees, prisoners, the elderly, and young people. He looked each person in the eye, not as a number, but as a soul beloved by God,” according to the cardinal.

The choice of his name, ‘Francis,’ after his election in 2013 was no mere symbolism, Poola said. “Like the Poverello of Assisi, he radiated a disarming simplicity and joy, a love for creation, and a deep longing for peace. He called us to care for our common home, to build bridges, not walls, and to become instruments of encounter and reconciliation in a fractured world.”

Despite grieving the pope’s death, “we take comfort in the seeds he has sown. The spirit of renewal he stirred in the Church will continue to bear fruit. His legacy is not written only in documents but in the hearts of millions he touched—through his humility, authenticity, and unwavering focus on Christ,” said Poola.

The cardinal said that Francis’ example, teaching, and service inspire all to follow Jesus with courage, love, and mercy.

Francis demonstrated the importance of walking humbly with God, urging the Church to unite with the suffering, marginalized, and those on the periphery of society. Your prophetic witness, gentle strength, and enduring joy have inspired a generation to believe anew in the nearness of God’s mercy.”

Poola also thanked Francis for making him a cardinal.

“With deep gratitude, I remember the singular honor and immense responsibility he bestowed on me by naming me a cardinal during his pontificate,” Poola said. “I accepted the designation not as a mark of privilege, but as a call to greater service—service rooted in the very spirit Pope Francis embodied: a Church that goes forth, a Church that listens, a Church that heals.”

Poola was appointed to the Archdiocese of Hyderabad in 2021. In May 2022, he was also named a cardinal by Pope Francis, making him the first Dalit Christian in India to hold that title.