Ten years of Pope Francis: how the voice of change goes beyond church walls

Catholics in Middle East celebrate charismatic leader who has spent a decade building bridges

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  It is 10 years since Pope Francis became head of the Roman Catholic Church. The National looks back at that decade. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis attends the funeral mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in January 2023 at St Peter's square in Vatican City. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis leads mass with the new cardinals in August 2022 at Vatican City. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis in March 2021 conducts mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis arrives at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq, March 2021. Getty Images

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  St Peter's Square stands empty while Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Mass in an empty St Peter's Basilica during the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis drives around Tokyo Dome before conducting mass during a visit to Japan in November 2019. Getty Images

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces at the time, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai and Pope Francis at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, in February 2019. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Pope Francis celebrates mass at Zayed Sport City, Abu Dhabi, in February 2019. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis attends the festival of families at Croke Park in August 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis during the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in March 2018 in Rome. Getty Images

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  The Pope at a public engagement in November 2017 in Yangon, Myanmar. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion at St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, April 14, 2017. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis at Easter Mass at St Peter's Square, Vatican City, April 2017. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during the British royal's visit to the Vatican in April 2017. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis meets migrants at the Moria detention centre in Lesbos, Greece, April 2016. Getty Images

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  Father Paschal Mwijage of the St Joseph the Worker Parish in Nairobi's Kangemi slum wears a T-shirt featuring Pope Francis in Kenya in November 2015. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis after conducting mass at Tacloban Airport in the Philippines, January 2015. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St Peter's Basilica in September 2014. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis meets football legend Diego Maradona during an audience in Rome in September 2014. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis prays by the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, May 2014. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis welcomes Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for a private audience in Rome, April 2014. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis during his weekly audience in St Peter's Square, the Vatican, in March 2014. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis during the Inauguration Mass for the Pope in St Peter's Square in March 2013. Getty Images

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  Women read a special edition of L'Osservatore Romano newspaper, which carries a photograph of the newly elected Pope Francis, March 2013. Getty Images

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  Pope Francis on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica in March 2013. Getty Images

The Catholic community in the Gulf are cherishing personal moments to mark the 10th anniversary of the Pope's election, from receiving special blessings to powerful messages of brotherhood.

The first non-European Pope in more than 1,200 years has touched communities across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, fulfilling a pledge to travel to countries the head of the Roman Catholic Church had never visited.

Parishioners from different nationalities say over the past decade they have been comforted by a “church of healing”.

When Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica wearing a simple white cassock on the night of his election on March 13, 2013 - instead of the rich velvet cape worn by his predecessors - it was a symbol of the change to come.

As Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, he regularly took the subway in Buenos Aires, did his own cooking and moved out of the archbishop’s house.

He told reporters he chose the name of St Francis of Assisi to represent a church “that is for the poor.”

Catholics tell of lessons of humility they learn when they see the Pope washing the feet of prisoners and migrants.

People on the margins are in mind when announcements are made about medical care, housing, meals for the poor and opening up Vatican museums for the homeless to visit.

Most Catholics say they never imagined being part of massive open air prayers in the Gulf over the past few years.

Critical blessings for cancer survivor

Dubai resident Bachir Roukoz treasures the sense of peace his family felt after Pope Francis blessed his daughter, a cancer survivor, during a 2019 UAE visit.

“We were at a critical time because my daughter had surgery a year earlier. We were hoping for any support and then she had the chance to meet him”, Mr Roukoz said.

Yara was then aged 12, battling stage four cancer after surgery to remove her thyroid gland.

Standing with a group of children at St Joseph Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, she reached out to hug the Pope, who reciprocated.

“Yara said she felt safe”, her father said.

“When he touched her, it was more than enough for us.

Pope Francis blesses a child during his visit to St Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi in February 2019. EPA

“We wanted her to be in his presence and when he gave her a hug, we didn’t need anything more”.

Yara remains cancer-free and requires tests every three months.

“She felt a strong, positive vibe. He gave his time to every person in the church that day”, the Lebanese citizen said.

“There was so much unlimited love”.

Thousands lined the streets in Abu Dhabi to catch a glimpse of the Pope.

The first Papal visit to the Gulf was significant in the milestones set.

The Document of Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, called on all faiths to build ties based on religious tolerance and urged the world to reject war.

Mr Roukoz recalls it as a day when history was made.

“The Pope coming to an Arab country, talking about humanity, trying to destroy all the walls between religions — this is very important”, he said.

Papal attraction

Priests in Bahrain reported a rise in the number of visitors to a cathedral and church that hosted the Pope during his maiden four-day visit in November last year.

Father Saji Thomas, parish priest of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, said the site had become a major draw for people of all religions.

“It has become a prime attraction after the Pope’s visit”, he said.

“We have plenty of foreign visitors who want to make sure they see places where the Pope visited.

“People who came for the Formula One last week also came to the cathedral.”

Pope Francis greets fellow priests at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The image of a smiling Pope waving to worshippers is still talked about.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Pope closely”, said Father Thomas, who was among the priests who greeted the Pope.

“He touches the hearts of people everywhere he goes.

“It is his simplicity that stays with you. How he has no barriers whether he meets the rich or poor. For him, all are created as God’s children.”

Winds of change

Hailed as a reformist, he has expressed shame about sexual abuse by the clergy and promised to change the “ugly habit” of covering up cases.

The 86-year-old pontiff has also encouraged debate on subjects previously considered off-limits.

“You don’t feel you are being judged when you hear him speak”, said Genalyn Gasatan, a personal assistant at a Dubai company. She was among thousands who waited patiently for hours to hear the Mass held by the Pope four years ago.

Dubai resident Genalyn Gasatan at the Sheikh Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi in February 2019, before the Mass conducted by Pope Francis. Photo: Genalyn Gasatan

“He is very open to people who are different”, said the Filipino citizen.

‘Whatever mistakes you have made, you feel you will be accepted as God’s child.”

More people have stepped into halls of prayer guided by his message of religious harmony and the promise of change.

“It’s inspiring how he speaks of acceptance, dignity and respect for others”, said Terilyn Andres, a senior sales manager in a Dubai hotel.

“You feel refreshed when you hear him speak — it’s like a healing.”

In a wheelchair since last year due to knee pain and injury, the Pope’s limited mobility does not restrict him from reaching across barriers to touch hands extended to greet him.

After recently visiting Congo and South Sudan, he is scheduled to meet refugees in Hungary next month and will participate in World Youth Day in Portugal in August.

The Vatican is also considering a trip to Mongolia later this year.

“It was amazing to see how a Roman Catholic leader was welcomed in Muslim countries like the UAE”, Ms Andres said.

“It was beautiful to see local people in kanduras and abayas also wanting to hear him speak.

“The image in my mind is how children and all people are drawn to him and how he blesses them”.