Rest Easy, Pope Francis.

Yesterday, on Easter Sunday, the world lost a moral voice whose impact reached far beyond the walls of the Vatican.

Pope Francis was a spiritual leader, but more than that, he was a global conscience—someone who spoke with urgency and clarity about the dignity of every human life. In a time marked by growing inequality, rising nationalism, and deepening division, he reminded us of the enduring power of humility, empathy, and service.

He chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi—a man of peace, poverty, and compassion—and he lived up to that choice every day of his papacy. Whether he was ministering to the poor, comforting refugees, or challenging world leaders to confront climate change, Pope Francis called on all of us—regardless of faith—to recognize our shared responsibility to one another.

He did not lead from on high. He led from among the people. And in doing so, he inspired a new generation to see faith not as something rigid or exclusionary, but as something that can be lived boldly through acts of justice and love.

Though I did not share his religious tradition, I deeply admired his moral courage—his willingness to question old assumptions, to speak hard truths, and to expand the boundaries of who belongs in our moral imagination. His voice mattered. And it will be missed.

I would like to join the millions around the world in mourning his passing. I give my thanks for his life, and for the example he set—not just as a pontiff, but as a peacemaker in a time that desperately needed one.

May he rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to guide those who believe in a more just and compassionate world.