Pope Francis dies at 88: Five controversies surrounding the Catholic Church leader

Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88 after a prolonged health battle. The Catholic leader was the first Latin American pontiff and was hailed for showing deep concern for the poor and marginalised sections of society. As his views often pushed the Church’s boundaries, he became a subject of controversy and criticism many times during his 12 years of service. Here’s a look at some of his most contentious moments:

‘All religions are a path to reach God’ – Pope Francis

Francis’ remarks about God and his views on other faiths during an interreligious meeting in Singapore sparked a debate. “All religions are a path to reach God. They are – I make a comparison – like different languages, different idioms, to get there. But God is God for everyone,” he said at the Catholic Junior College of Singapore in 2024, per The Pillar.

“And since God is God for everyone, we are all children of God. ‘But my God is more important than yours!’ Is this true? There is only one God, and our religions are languages, paths to reach God. Some are Sikh, some are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are Christian, but they are different paths,” the late pontiff added at the time.

Pope Francis’ stance on gay priests

In 2013, the late Pope got candid about his stance on gay priests, saying, “Who am I to judge?” their sexual orientation, according to Associated Press. He made the controversial remarks during an interview aboard his plane upon returning from his first papal trip to celebrate World Youth Day in Brazil. “We shouldn’t marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society,” Francis told reporters at the time, adding, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

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