Today, on Easter Monday, a sacred day of reflection in the Christian tradition, the world has lost a peacemaker.
The Council of Europe mourns the passing of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Holy See, one of our Observer States, and a fervent defender of European values.
Reflecting on the legacy of the post-war generation, Pope Francis reminded us during his last visit to our Organisation in 2014 that our founding fathers' project was to "rebuild Europe in a spirit of mutual service - a principle that, even today, in a world more inclined to demand than to serve, must remain the cornerstone of the Council of Europe's mission: to uphold peace, freedom, and human dignity."
Pope Francis was a leader of our times.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, praised Pope Francis' memory in these terms: "I had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father several times, where we spoke about peace efforts and humanity, from Ukraine, to Colombia, to the Democratic Republic of Congo or Bangladesh. We also addressed climate change, which he saw not only as an ecological emergency but also as a moral imperative, as well as the war in Ukraine - a human tragedy that, in his eyes, was also a test of our shared values.
What struck me most was his unwavering moral clarity - in promoting justice and reconciliation, in defending multilateralism, and in upholding humanitarian law.
May Pope Francis' life and legacy continue to inspire us to help each other and to stand up for one another, on our continent and beyond."
