He was not just a distant pontiff issuing decrees from afar, he was a pilgrim of peace, a man who set foot on troubled soil and walked with the wounded

By Amb. Prof. Joram Biswaro

As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis this past Easter weekend, the timing has not been lost on the faithful. The man who walked so closely with Christ in word and deed now returns home during the season of resurrection—a fitting finale for a life lived in the service of peace, humility, and unwavering love.

For Africa, the Pope’s departure feels particularly personal.

He was not just a distant pontiff issuing decrees from afar. He was a pilgrim of peace, a man who set foot on troubled soil and walked with the wounded. He went where others warned him not to, spoke where silence had long reigned, and knelt where power usually stands tall.

A Prayer in Bangui, a Door of Mercy

In 2015, as the Central African Republic teetered on the edge of civil war, Pope Francis visited Bangui. There, he did something extraordinary—he opened a Holy Door of Mercy, typically reserved for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In doing so, he declared Bangui the spiritual heart of the Jubilee Year.

He didn’t simply call for peace—he prayed with Muslim leaders in mosques, embraced Christian communities in their grief, and urged reconciliation where only division had seemed possible. Soon after, the nation held elections. Tensions eased. And hope took root again.

A Cry for Congo’s Dignity

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pope Francis delivered one of his most impassioned pleas:

“Hands off Africa!” he thundered. “Stop choking her, for she is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.”

His visit wasn’t just about rebuke—it was about dignity. He met with victims of conflict and exploitation, offering prayers, presence, and something far rarer: global attention wrapped in genuine empathy.

A Humble Act for South Sudan

But perhaps his most symbolic gesture came in 2019, not in Africa but in the halls of the Vatican. There, he hosted South Sudan’s political leaders—men long embroiled in bitter conflict. At the end of their retreat, he shocked the world by kneeling before them and kissing their feet, begging them to choose peace.

It was an act reminiscent of the woman in the Gospel of Luke who, overwhelmed with love and repentance, washed Christ’s feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Pope Francis mirrored that same humility. Not for show, but for change. And indeed, fragile peace found a foothold.

He would later journey to South Sudan, embraced by a people weary from war, but stirred by the Pope’s unrelenting call for peace, unity, forgiveness and reconciliation.

A Shepherd, A Friend, A Witness

To Africa, Pope Francis was more than the Bishop of Rome. He was a shepherd who came close, a friend who listened, a witness who never turned away from pain. He carried no earthly power, yet commanded a spiritual authority rooted in love, humility, and sacrifice. To the world, he was an advocate for the marginalised populace and the voice to the voiceless.

His death during Easter is perhaps heaven’s final word on his legacy: a man of peace laid to rest in a season of resurrection.

As the continent he loved so deeply continues its journey toward unity, justice, and prosperity, his footsteps remain—quiet, sure, and holy.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Ambassador Professor Joram Biswaro is the Head of Mission of the African Union to South Sudan and Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. He met the late Pope Francis in Juba on 3^rd February 2023. He is also the author of the series “Transitional Justice Under Scrutiny Vol. 1 &2” available in print and on Amazon.