Fr James Panavelil, the vicar of Sanjopuram St Joseph's Church under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, calling him “a people’s Holy Father” who brought a paradigm shift in the Catholic Church. Known for his 2021 whistleblowing speech that criticised growing extremist tendencies among Kerala Christians, Fr Panavelil said Pope Francis was more than a supreme head of the Church — he was “a person who had his feet on the ground, someone who smiled at people, with the face and kindness of Christ”.

“He changed the face of the Church”

Fr Panavelil recalled how the Pope’s humility was evident from the beginning of his papacy — from standing in line to pay his rent to travelling by bus and being spotted on the streets of the Vatican. “He even visited an optician to get a new pair of spectacles,” Fr Panavelil said. “These simple acts created a ‘wow factor’ and surprised people. Many said this is the kind of Holy Father we had been waiting for. He was a people’s man — simple and down to earth — and made the Holy Father designation more democratic.”

According to him, Pope Francis was an eye-opener to many. “He wasn’t one for walls and boundaries. He loved people from all walks of life,” Panavelil said.

A Pope who spoke the language of the people

Fr Panavelil also praised Pope Francis for simplifying Christian teachings. “He avoided the canonical tone and spoke in words that were practically understandable by commoners. His messages reached households and farmers alike,” he said, adding that the Pope's use of simple language helped disseminate Christian values more effectively.

Strong stand against religious labelling and hate

Fr Panavelil emphasised Pope Francis' consistent opposition to religious labelling. “He never endorsed terms like ‘Islamic terrorism’. For him, crime was crime, not something to be boxed into religious categories,” said the priest. “He stumped the media and political forces who sought polarisation through his statements. His cordial relationship with the Islamic world stood out — especially at a time when some faith leaders are promoting Islamophobia.”

Fr Panavelil further contrasted the Pope’s inclusive stance with what he described as a troubling trend among a section of Kerala’s faith leaders who, he claimed, have aligned themselves with fascist political forces. “Pope Francis always stood for a Christian vision of universal brotherhood,” he said.

Revolutionary gestures and inclusion

Highlighting the Pope’s progressive acts, Fr Panavelil recalled how Francis washed the feet of women and prison inmates during Maundy Thursday ceremonies. “This was revolutionary given the rigid framework of liturgy,” he said. “Pope once said he is not one to judge a transgender person — he saw them as humans.”

Pope not to blame for uniform Holy Mass controversy

On the ongoing row over the uniform mode of Holy Mass in the Syro-Malabar Church, Fr Panavelil defended Pope Francis. “I do not believe the Pope was responsible for this conflict,” he said. “It was the Metropolitans and Synod who presented the situation to him. He always believed the Holy Mass was for the people. I think his view was influenced — or misled — by certain vested interests. He would never have endorsed a conservative view that opposed the people-facing Holy Mass.”

About Panavelil 

Fr Panavelil gained attention for his bold 2021 Independence Day speech warning against the rise of far-right Christian alignment in Kerala. He coined the term ‘Chrisanghi’ to refer to such elements. He has championed inclusivity, introducing LGBTQIA+-themed Christmas stars and washing the feet of women — moves that earned him both praise and backlash. He was also among the first to criticise churches that hosted screenings of The Kerala Story. For his inclusive stance, Fr Panavelil has frequently been targeted by Christian fundamentalist groups and far-right loyalists online.