Abu Dhabi: In a deeply moving statement, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, paid tribute to Pope Francis, remembering him not just as a pontiff, but as a spiritual father whose legacy is etched into the lives of millions—especially among migrant communities.
“We are all grieved by his passing,” Bishop Martinelli began, reflecting on a pontificate that spanned from March 13, 2013, until his peaceful departure on April 21, 2025. “His years of service were marked by prophetic actions, transformative encounters, and profound teachings that met the challenges of our modern world with courage and compassion.”
Bishop Martinelli recalled Pope Francis as the face of divine mercy—a leader who reached out to the forgotten: the poor, the imprisoned, the sick, and the displaced. “He brought the Gospel’s joy to all, not with mere words, but with a presence that comforted the afflicted and challenged the complacent,” he said.
For the Church in the Arabian Peninsula—largely composed of migrants—Pope Francis held a unique and powerful resonance. “He stood for the dignity and rights of migrants everywhere,” said the Bishop. “We felt his love personally.”
Among the most treasured moments was Pope Francis’s historic 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi, where he celebrated Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium and visited St. Joseph’s Cathedral. His message during the Mass, Bishop Martinelli noted, still echoes in the hearts of the faithful: “Here you know the melody of the Gospel and live the enthusiasm of its rhythm… a diversity that the Holy Spirit loves and wants to harmonize.”
That visit also marked the signing of the landmark Document on Human Fraternity—a bold interfaith call for peace and cooperation, co-signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. “It remains a prophetic sign of our times,” Bishop Martinelli emphasized. “We are called to carry its vision forward.”
He also reflected on the Pope’s rich legacy of writings, from Fratelli Tutti to Laudato Si’—a blueprint for healing social divides and protecting creation. “Even in his final days, marked by illness, he remained a servant of peace. He prayed. He worked. He blessed.”
Bishop Martinelli recounted how, just the day before his death, Pope Francis gave his final Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing, walking through St. Peter’s Square one last time, offering hope to a world in mourning. “At 7:35 this morning, his heart beat no more—but he now lives in the eternal embrace of the God he so lovingly served.”
“In our grief, we cling to the hope of the Resurrection,” Bishop Martinelli concluded. “Let us pray that the spiritual inheritance Pope Francis left us continues to grow and guide the Church for generations to come. Amen.”