Pope Francis was arguably the most influential person in the world, second only to the President of the United States.
With a following of 1.5 billion, Pope Francis could influence people of faith and those without, encouraging them to build bridges. The profound conflicts between Christians and Muslims, Jews and Christians, and Hindus and Christians often seem irreconcilable, but solutions are still possible. These conflicts could weigh heavily on communities.
On March 19, 2013, in a weekly column on faith, the Dallas Morning News asked me to write an advice for Pope Francis. As a member of the newspaper’s faith panel, I authored over 250 pieces on pluralism including this piece which has been updated.
I suggested a two-track approach for the Pope.
The first aspect would involve initiating purposeful dialogue with each group to foster respect for one another’s differences and promote peaceful coexistence. A starting point could be addressing the Christian-Muslim conflict followed by other conflicts.
The practical side of this approach would be encouraging people of faith and those without faith to collaborate on projects focused on poverty reduction, healthcare, access to clean water, and basic educational programs. Each initiative should include representation from all religions, as working together towards a common goal will help minimize conflicts and nurture goodwill among people.
Pope Francis possessed the qualities needed for this task. I prayed that his strong commitment to living an austere life, concentrating on poverty elimination, and serving God’s creation would catalyze meaningful change. He must initiate dialogues on pressing social issues such as gender equality, same-sex marriage, and birth control.
As a Muslim and a pluralist, I warmly welcomed Pope Francis and offered my support in his efforts to create peace in a world where no one has to live in fear of others. “Let us strive to create a new kingdom of heaven where everyone feels safe and secure in each other’s presence. Amen!”
To me, Pope Francis was my Imam. He served as a spiritual guide as a genuine Muslim Imam. He was a faithful servant of God and an authentic follower of Jesus, representing ideals that Prophet Muhammad stood for: justice, equality, and kindness to all beings.
I had long sought someone in the contemporary world who truly understood the purpose of religion—to establish societies in which every human feels secure, regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, gender orientation, or any other criteria.
Pope Francis was one of the most inclusive individuals God has created in recent times. He demonstrated respect for the uniqueness of God’s creations and embraced every human being.
After his appointment in March 2013, I felt a spiritual connection with him. The more I learned about him, the more I realized he embodied my beliefs. His actions included mending relationships between Muslims and Christians and Jews and Christians, addressing issues such as respect for non-believers and the LGBTQ+ community, and advocating for the ordination of women in the clergy. He believes that all people should be treated equally in the eyes of God.
His actions demonstrated genuine humility. When Rivkah, an Orthodox Jew, could not bow to him, he bowed to her, illustrating that human dignity surpasses religious customs.
Different people may choose different expressions of respect—each path is valid. Pope Francis’s teachings resonate beyond Christianity, embracing the essence of all religions. Despite our differing faiths, I followed him as a leader who seeks to foster humanity and unity, breaking down barriers and eliminating hate and prejudice.
I listened to him and chose to follow him. Although he was Christian and I am Muslim, the essence of all religions is to promote humanity and dismantle divisions between individuals. If a religion does not eliminate hate, prejudice, ill-will, and divisions, then it has failed to fulfill its purpose. One may need to explore one’s faith further until one finds a sense of unity and purpose.
I wanted to meet him and present a proposal for reconciliation among religions this year. I was hoping to see him and regret not being able to do so.
Long live your legacy; you were a blessed peacemaker. Thank you, Pope Francis, for being such an example.
