Pope was ‘a true friend’ to non-Catholics: local faith groups

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Leaders from non-Catholic faith groups in Winnipeg, reflecting on the death of Pope Francis earlier this week, say he left “a profound mark on the world” and “a remarkable legacy.”

The Manitoba Multifaith Council noted the pontiff’s leadership, humility and unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable.

In his life, Francis “exemplified the power of faith in action and inspired countless individuals across all traditions. His life was a testament to what is possible when one follows the teachings of Jesus Christ,” the council said in a statement, adding he showed how everyone should be treated with care and compassion.

Francis “left a profound mark on the world,” the council said.

Ismael Mukhtar, a leader in the city’s Muslim community, said Francis leaves “a remarkable legacy of promoting peace, fairness and compassion towards marginalized communities.”

Mukhtar noted the pope’s condemnation of the excesses of war around the world, including in Gaza, and his call to political leaders to “not yield to the logic of fear, which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development.”

Those are values held also by Muslims, Mukhtar said.

Jeff Lieberman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said the pontiff was “a true friend to the Jewish community and a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue.”

He cited Francis’ “deep friendship” with Rabbi Abraham Skorka, also from Argentina, who he worked with to build relations between the Roman Catholic and Jewish communities in that country. That friendship was an example of the pope’s commitment to “honest dialogue and mutual respect between faiths,” Lieberman said.

Francis also repeatedly condemned antisemitism as a sin and worked to build upon Nostra Aetate, the landmark Vatican document that transformed Catholic-Jewish relations 60 years ago, Lieberman said.

He added that Francis “led with humility, compassion and a belief in the shared humanity of all people. His legacy of bridge-building will continue to inspire interfaith partnerships and efforts toward peace and understanding. May his memory always be a blessing.”

Michael Pahl, executive minister of Mennonite Church Manitoba, said the pope lived up to his namesake, the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. For that, Pahl said, “We as Mennonites are grateful. He modeled Franciscan — and Anabaptist — ideals of simplicity and peacebuilding, prompting millions of Christians around the world to live into these ideals themselves.”

Doug Klassen, the executive minister for Mennonite Church Canada, said the Mennonite community had a deep appreciation for Francis’ “deep humility and his courage in advocating global peace, compassion and justice for the poor, and for humanity’s responsibility in caring for the whole of God’s creation.”

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