Cardinal Stephen Brislin describes Francis as most abused Pope in modern era

JOHANNESBURG - Cardinal Stephen Brislin has described Pope Francis as the most abused Pope in the modern era.

Francis died on Monday at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke. The late 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church sparked both admiration and controversy during his 12-year papacy.

While he was lauded by many as a reformer who pushed the church in a more progressive direction for addressing issues such as climate change, LGBTIQ+ inclusion and economic inequality, some conservative voices within the church accused the pope of straying from traditional Catholic doctrine.

In remembrance of the catholic leader, the Cathedral of Christ the King held a memorial mass service in Johannesburg.

To stray from old traditions or uphold them?

Pope Francis walked a tightrope between reform and orthodoxy, challenging the church to evolve while striving to ensure that it remains anchored in its core teachings.

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But this was not always welcomed, as explained by Cardinal Brislin, who was appointed to the position by the late Pope in 2023.

"Francis was probably the pope who received the most abuse in the modern era, sadly, very often from within the catholic church rather than without."

But Brislin stressed that the Francis’ teachings were not a break from tradition but a return to the core message of Christianity – of compassion, inclusion and care for the marginalised.