MEDIA STATEMENT - April 23, 2025

The world has lost a great champion of the poor and the marginalised, says Gerry Stevens, President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in New Zealand.

“Pope Francis didn’t just talk about the poor; he stood with them. He rejected pomp and splendour and opened his heart to the marginalised and vulnerable.

“His witness was stunning. He showed us the way to live out the Gospel fearlessly and with deep compassion.”

Pope Francis reminded us often that Christian faith is not about power or perfection, but about love, says Gerry. For Pope Francis, love and mercy mattered most.

“He was not afraid to challenge the church to examine its priorities. He could be provocative and ruffle more than a few feathers. 

“This is how he described the church he would like to see: ‘I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.

“‘The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle.’”

Gerry Stevens said the Society of St Vincent de Paul felt a special bond with Pope Francis. The Society has more than 1100 members in New Zealand and nearly 6,000 volunteers. Worldwide it has over 500,000 members in more than 100 countries

“His priorities were our priorities, his values our values. We are a grassroots organisation committed to serving those in need and working for justice. His teaching and his powerful example were a huge inspiration for our members throughout New Zealand. We have been so fortunate to have such a Pope.”

Pope Francis was always eager to engage with the world as it is, its social problems as well as its beauty, says Gerry. 

“His encyclicals – Fratelli Tutti (on the family of humanity) and Laudato Si’ (on the value and care of the earth) – addressed worldwide social problems. These encyclicals, with their mix of hope and realism, have been very influential not just on the church but on society at large.”

Pope Francis’ papacy led the way on many fronts, says Gerry. He built bridges with other Christian denominations and showed a deep respect for other religions. He railed against clericalism and worked very hard to implant synodality as a way of making the church more inclusive. 

“He reminded us of the human dignity of every person, whether it be a migrant, a prisoner, the unborn, an LGBTQ person.  His constant message was ‘every single person matters.’

Gerry Stevens said Pope Francis was outspoken in critiquing our economic system and calling for justice, not just charity. The problems of the poor, said the Pope, will never be addressed without attacking the structural causes of inequality.

“He taught us that working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labour is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.”

For further comment:

Gerry Stevens
National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society
Mobile: 027 243 2249
Email: president@svdp.org.nz