Thousands gathered at Regina Mundi Catholic Church on Thursday, May 1, for the National Ecumenical Memorial Service honouring Pope Francis, a spiritual leader remembered as a global figure of justice, humility, and love for all humanity.

The event was jointly hosted by the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), symbolising the ecumenical spirit Pope Francis championed throughout his papacy.

In his homily, Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka, the SACC President and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mthatha, described Pope Francis as “a beacon of humility and justice who challenged structures of inequality and consistently put the poor, the forgotten, and the marginalised at the centre of the Church’s mission.”
“This is not only a Catholic moment of remembrance,” said Bishop Sipuka, “but a national and ecumenical celebration of a man whose ministry transcended religious boundaries.”

The memorial service included participation from various Christian denominations, with heartfelt tributes delivered by religious leaders who reflected on Pope Francis’ unwavering commitment to peace, human dignity, and ecological justice.

Two renowned choirs – the Catholic MaCecilia Choir and the Baratoa Ba Morena Choir from the Council for African Independent Churches (CAIC) – offered powerful musical tributes during the prayer service. Their performances underscored the broad appeal Pope Francis held among diverse Christian communities in South Africa and beyond.

The event culminated in the planting of an olive tree in the church precinct—an enduring symbol of peace and unity in recognition of the Pope’s environmental encyclical Laudato Si, which calls for care of “our common home.”

In his homily, the immediate former SACBC President reflected on Pope Francis’ outreach beyond the Church’s walls—from pleading for peace by kissing the feet of South Sudanese leaders, to his personal calls to Catholics in Gaza during times of war, to publicly mourning migrants who died at sea, and to his words of solidarity during disasters in South Africa, such as the 2023 coastal floods and the Marshalltown fire.

“He was not content to speak about justice—he lived it,” Bishop Sipuka emphasised.
“He reminds us that the Church must be a field hospital, not a museum—engaged with suffering, not guarding tradition at a distance.”

He also acknowledged that Pope Francis was not without critics, especially among those concerned with perceived changes in tradition. “But Francis taught us that true faith does not fear diversity of thought. The Church must be a place for all, not only the like-minded.”

The Local Ordinary of Mthatha Diocese concluded with a call to action for church leaders and the broader public: “In a country battling unemployment and poverty, Pope Francis urges us not just to pray but to act. As leaders, we must walk with our people, not above them, not exploiting them, but in personal solidarity with their struggle for dignity.”

Pope Francis, who passed away peacefully in Rome on Easter Monday, leaves behind a spiritual and social legacy that reached far beyond the Catholic Church. The May 1st memorial service reflected that enduring impact across the South African society and beyond.