Photo:Pope Francis gives a thumbs up after receiving the scroll of “Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace” from Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL

 

April 23, 2025

On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 in his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. The Vatican issued a statement honoring Pope Francis's lifelong devotion to God and the Church, recognizing him as a faithful and courageous practitioner of the Gospel. Heads of state and leaders from around the world expressed their condolences and remembrance .​

 

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), praised Pope Francis as an extraordinary spiritual leader whose unwavering compassion, humility, and dedication deeply touched countless lives. Dr. Hong noted that the Pope’s teachings and example continue to inspire people around the world to pursue justice, care for the marginalized, and embody the values of the Gospel through lives guided by conscience and love.​

 

On April 20, Easter Sunday, Pope Francis made his final public appearance in St. Peter’s Square, blessing approximately 35,000 faithful. He delivered the Easter message through a representative, emphasizing, “I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible!” He appealed to warring parties: “Call a ceasefire, release the hostages, and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!” He expressed deep empathy for the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis and voiced concern for conflicts in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine. He emphasized, “In this jubilee year, may Easter also be a fitting occasion for the liberation of prisoners of war and political prisoners!” ​

 

Despite concerns over his health, Pope Francis briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Domus Sanctae Marthae that morning. Since becoming pope at age 76, he had fully dedicated himself to the Church with a deep sense of mission, always placing the Church above all else

 

The People’s Pope: TIME’s Person of the Year in 2013

Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013, as the 266th Pope. He made history as the first Pope from Latin America, the Southern Hemisphere, and the Jesuit order. Choosing the name "Francis" in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, he stood in solidarity with the poor.​

 

In 2013, TIME magazine named him “Person of the Year,” praising him as “The People’s Pope.” Known for his humility, empathy, and care for the marginalized, he made the Church more attuned to the needs of modern society and redefined its image. He promoted financial transparency within the Church and modeled a life of simplicity by residing in the modest Domus Sanctae Marthae instead of the traditional papal apartments .​

 

Photo:Pope Francis presented Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze with an official medal for the eleventh year of the pope’s pontificate.

 

Pursuing the Path of Peace Together: Promoting the Vision of the International Day of Conscience

On May 15, 2024, during his general audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis delivered a catechesis on the theological virtue of charity. He prayed for refugees affected by natural disasters and urged the international community to provide immediate aid and support. Tens of thousands of pilgrims in the square witnessed a historic meeting between two global advocates for love and peace: Pope Francis and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL). Dr. Hong shared FOWPAL's global efforts in promoting the International Day of Conscience and presented the Pope with three insightful books: "Conscience: The Wellspring of Wisdom," "The History of International Day of Conscience," and "Back to Origin." Additionally, Dr. Hong offered meaningful gifts, including a scroll of "Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace," the "Tai Ji Men Celestial Drum," a commemorative silver coin for Dr. Hong’s 80th birthday, and the “Key to the Heart.”​

In honor of the Pope’s 11th anniversary of his papacy, Dr. Hong was awarded a Vatican medal engraved in Latin: SIMVL INVENIENDAE SVNT PACIS SEMITAE, meaning “Together we must seek the paths of peace.”​

 

Marco Respinti, executive editor of Bitter Winter, remarked, “St. Peter’s Square is not only the heart of Christianity but also the center of the world.” He noted that the Pope’s message on charity perfectly aligns with the teachings of Tai Ji Men and Dr. Hong, as well as the work of FOWPAL. He emphasized the significance of the meeting between Pope Francis and Dr. Hong in fostering mutual understanding and resonance.​

 

Photo:On May 15, 2024, Pope Francis and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze met in St. Peter’s Square.

 

Both Pope Francis and Dr. Hong dedicated their lives to the pursuit and practice of peace. Pope Francis long championed interfaith harmony, while Dr. Hong has led delegations across six continents, promoting a culture of peace rooted in love and conscience, with visits to 114 countries to date.​

 

Fostering Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence Among Different Faiths

Pope Francis actively promoted interreligious dialogue, peace, and global concerns such as poverty and environmental protection. His efforts extended far beyond Europe, with journeys that took him across Africa and as far as Southeast Asia. In 2015, he visited Cuba and the United States, becoming the first Pope in history to address the U.S. Congress.

 

In 2021, despite the dangers of war and the COVID-19 pandemic, the 84-year-old Pope made a historic visit to Iraq, where Christians are a minority. He became the first Pope to set foot in the country and held a landmark meeting with Shiite leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, marking a milestone in interfaith dialogue. At Ur, the traditional birthplace of the prophet Abraham, he led an interfaith gathering that included Catholics, Christians, Shiites, Sunnis, and other religious groups, calling for peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

 

The United Nations issued a statement praising Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq, stating that it helped heal the wounds left by ISIS and conveyed a message of peaceful coexistence to Iraq’s diverse religious communities, offering encouragement to the country’s minority Christians

 

Amid the global fear and upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis offered hope to the world through his book Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, encouraging people never to lose hope and to dare to dream. He also called on humanity to seize the opportunity to build lasting peace.

 

Notably, in 2025, the United Nations General Assembly, during its 79th session, officially designated July 12 as the “International Day of Hope.” Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, who initiated this UN-declared day, emphasized, “With conscience, comes hope. With hope, comes action. With action, comes a way. With a way, wisdom arises. Let’s turn our hope into action and follow the light of conscience to a brighter future!”

 

The foundation of global safety and stability lies in awakening everyone’s conscience, thereby fostering compassion, tolerance, good deeds, and the power of hope. Through the promotion of the International Day of Hope, people around the world are encouraged to act with conscience and hope to safeguard humanity’s security and sustainable future. At the same time, this initiative calls for transforming Pope Francis’s exhortations into concrete actions to actively seize opportunities for creating peace.