Condolences pour in, Pope Francis remembered as Gaza’s friend, voice of conscience
Vatican City: Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church's first Latin American leader, died on Monday at the age of 88. His final public remarks, delivered on Easter Sunday, included a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and humanitarian aid for those caught in conflict, especially those “starving” for peace.
His death came as a surprise to many. The previous day, he had appeared to be in good health, waving to crowds from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square.
In Gaza, his death has been described as a significant loss. He maintained regular communication with the Roman Catholic community in the region during the ongoing conflict. According to Reverend Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest at the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, the Pope called every evening at 8 p.m. Gaza time, even during his own hospitalisation, to offer prayers and moral support.
Romanelli confirmed these details to Vatican News.
Public tributes have come in from various figures around the world. Activist and author Fatima Bhutto said, “Pope Francis was the only public figure of conscience and compassion we had. The world is morally poorer without him. Even as he breathed his last breath, he spoke out for Gaza and called the parish daily to offer what comfort he could to Palestinians. I loved him and will pray for him.”
Pastor Munther Isaac from Bethlehem said, “Palestinians, and Palestinian Christians in particular, have lost a dear friend today. Pope Francis was beloved in Palestine… His pastoral heart was evident in his insistence on calling the Christian community besieged in Gaza on a constant basis, even from his hospital.”
Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari noted that the Pope had called for a Gaza ceasefire in his final address. British peer Meral Hussein said, “His calls for a Gaza ceasefire were something he consistently called for, while ignored by Biden and other Christian leaders around the world.”
Indian journalist Rana Ayyub referred to him as “a shepherd who carried Gaza in his prayers and Sudan in his heart,” adding, “Even in his final days, he spoke for the broken, the bombed, and the forgotten. A holy soul now at rest but still walking with the wounded. The world is a lesser place today.”
Tributes also appeared across social media. One user wrote, “As an atheist, the passing of Pope Francis still hits me. He embraced everyone, broke barriers, and stood for love, freedom and inclusion—things the whole world needs more of.”
Another post read, “Gaza has lost a friend this morning. Even before his death, he still urged for a ceasefire in Gaza. Rest easy, Pope.”
Other online users described him as “a towering mortal giant in a time of evil and cowardice,” and said, “He called the situation in Gaza what it was: a slaughter, a terror, a betrayal of humanity. He spoke for the children bombed, the families destroyed, and the people of Palestine.”
In his final Easter message, the Pope said, “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others.”
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FIR filed against three individuals, website for spreading false news involving VB, ‘Op Sindoor’
Mangaluru, May 15: An FIR has been registered at the Mangaluru South Police Station against three individuals and a news website for allegedly spreading false and provocative content involving Kannada daily Vartha Bharati and "Operation Sindoor".
The complaint was lodged by B.M. Basheer, News Editor of Vartha Bharati, who sought legal action against those misusing his name, the name of the newspaper, and "Operation Sindoor" to circulate misleading and defamatory content.
According to the complaint, a Facebook post by Nithin Shamanur titled ‘Operation Sindoor: Kannada Journalist’s brother’s wife Finished’ contained false information and featured a photograph of a woman and soldiers. This same post was allegedly shared by two others — Santosh Hegade and Bettampady Chandra — on their Facebook profiles. In addition, the same content was reportedly published by the website newsputtur.com.
Basheer stated that the news being circulated is completely baseless and inflammatory, and accused the individuals involved of attempting to mislead the public. He warned that such content could spark unrest, especially in the already sensitive environment of coastal Karnataka.
“This baseless and provocative misinformation in the name of ‘Operation Sindoor’ is misleading the public and has the potential to incite unrest in society,” said Basheer in his complaint. “Given the already sensitive atmosphere in coastal Karnataka due to recent developments, such rumors are likely to further destabilize the situation.”
He demanded strict legal action against Nithin Shamanur, Santosh Hegade, Bettampady Chandra, and the editor of newsputtur.com, including registration of a criminal case and a thorough investigation into the matter.
Acting on the complaint, the Mangaluru South Police have registered an FIR against all four accused under relevant sections for allegedly spreading false, defamatory, and inflammatory content online. Further investigation is underway.
