Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recalled Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), the first Latin American Pope and Head of State of the Vatican City, who passed away on Monday morning, as a wise, profound, humanistic leader, and someone close to the poor.
During her morning press conference, the President expressed her condolences, especially to Catholics around the world, and particularly to Mexican Catholics.
“We mourn the passing of Pope Francis. Our embrace goes out to all Catholics in Mexico, and also to non-Catholics. Pope Francis was a humanist, a man who stood with the most humble, the poor. Just yesterday, his message was one of peace, so this is a painful loss. Our love and support go out to the entire world, especially to all Catholics,” Sheinbaum said.
The President recalled her emotional meeting with the 264th successor to the throne of Saint Peter, which took place when she was beginning her presidential campaign in Mexico. Sheinbaum was invited by the Sulaimán brothers, who had a close relationship with Pope Francis stemming from their father’s connection with Bergoglio back when he was a bishop in Argentina.
“I had the privilege of being received along with them and someone very close to Pope Francis, in his modest and simple apartment in the Vatican—an apartment that reflected the austerity he always preached, especially within the Catholic Church,” she explained.
Sheinbaum smiled as she recounted how the Pope told her that the day before, a “good woman” named Xóchitl Gálvez had visited him and said she would run for the presidency of Mexico, and that there was another contender.
“I told him, ‘Well, that would be me, Your Holiness, Pope Francis.’”
She also mentioned that they discussed one of the Pope’s well-known quotes, which she often uses in assemblies:
“I believe it expresses his humanism in just a few words and also what all of us as human beings should be: ‘The only legitimate way to look down on someone is when you’re helping them up.’”
“I’ve shared that thought many times, even during my campaign, because it’s beautiful. It means that we are all equal and we should always look each other in the eye, as equals. No one should ever look down on someone else, unless it’s to extend a hand to help them up.”
The President of Mexico noted that Pope Francis showed her a painting that represented that quote, and then spoke to her about moments from his life.
“A very wise man who conveyed deep thoughts in very few words—really a special moment, and I thank him, and of course the Sulaimán brothers who made it possible.”
She emphasized that Pope Francis was a critic of consumerism, discrimination, and neoliberalism, and that he professed a deep love for others and great humility.
Finally, Sheinbaum announced that on Tuesday, April 22, the government would present a tribute to Pope Francis.
“Beyond religion—of course we are a secular state—but we always stood by Pope Francis for his humanism and his advocacy for the poor. Tomorrow, we will present a brief tribute to his ideas.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its condolences over the Pope’s passing, recalling him as the first Latin American Pope.
It also sent heartfelt sympathies to his family and to all who considered him their spiritual leader.
“As President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has stated, Pope Francis will be remembered as a great humanist who chose to stand with the poor and promoted brotherhood among peoples and nations. May he rest in peace,” the statement concluded.
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Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
