In a video recording in honour of the late Pope Francis, Archbishop Emeritus Buti Joseph Tlhagale OMI of Johannesburg offers a heartfelt tribute to the Holy Father, describing the late Pope Francis as “a special leader” whose influence transcended religious boundaries and left an enduring moral imprint on the world.

A Voice for Peace in Troubled Times
Archbishop Emeritus Tlhagale OMI begins his tribute by recalling the uncertainty that surrounded the Pope’s health during his final days. He recalls how, despite multiple hospital stays, the world held on to hope. Yet, upon his passing, a global outpouring of tributes began—an acknowledgment of a man whose moral clarity and compassion had touched lives far beyond the Church.

“Pope Francis was a recognized moral voice in the world,” he said, especially for his bold and consistent interventions for peace, including his pleas for an end to wars in Nigeria, Sudan, and beyond.

Transforming the Church Through Mercy
Unlike some who seek change through legal reform, Pope Francis reshaped the Church by shifting its tone. “He didn’t change doctrine,” Archbishop Tlhagale OMI explained, “but he changed the environment of the Church.”
At the heart of that transformation was mercy—not as a theological abstraction, but as a lived, pastoral attitude. The Johannesburg based Archbishop Emeritus went on to emphasis Pope Francis empathy, dignity, and love that became the hallmarks of his Papacy, as He challenged Church leaders to become more compassionate, more approachable, and more human.

Champion of Migrants and Refugees
In the video tribute, Archbishop Tlhagale OMI highlights that Pope Francis’s deep concern for migrants and refugees became one of the defining features of his pontificate.

Archbishop Tlhagale OMI recalled the powerful symbolism of the bronze sculpture in St. Peter’s Square depicting migrants and refugees as “a reminder to the world that they, too, are children of God.”
“If Bishop Scalabrini is known as the ‘Father of Migrants,’” the Archbishop said, “then Pope Francis surely deserves the same title.”

At a time when many nations were closing their doors, the Pope insisted on opening hearts—to see the human face behind every border crossing, to recognize the sacred dignity of every displaced person.

A Gentle Approach to Human Brokenness
The 77-year-old Prelate also highlighted Pope Francis pastoral care for those in difficult family situations, including the divorced and separated. How Pope Francis urged bishops to approach such cases not with judgment, but with understanding and kindness, embodying the Church as a field hospital—called not to condemn but to heal.

“Ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges should not be punished further,” Archbishop Tlhagale OMI emphasized, reflecting on the Pope’s commitment to a more compassionate application of Church law.

Simplicity as a Way of Life
He noted that Pope Francis not only preached simplicity but lived it. He spoke of Pope Francis’ choice to reside at the Santa Marta guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace, to his modest car and his yearly visits to prisons where he washed the feet of inmates, his witness was radical in its humility.

“By moving away from lavish styles of leadership,” the Archbishop noted, “he taught us all to renounce the love of wealth and embrace a Gospel-centered life.”

A Marian Heart
Like his predecessors, Pope Francis had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the Archbishop Emeritus of Johannesburg, Pope Francis wish to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major speaks volumes about the role Mary played in his spirituality. Through this, the late Pope reminded Catholics of the intercessory power of Mary, especially in times of sorrow and need.

A Legacy That Endures
Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday, is a symbolic moment of hope and resurrection. Archbishop Tlhagale expressed a prayerful hope that the Pope, who spent his life lifting others, now rises with Christ to eternal glory.
“May his spirit, his teachings, and his example continue to inspire Catholics and all people of goodwill,” said the Archbishop. “He will be dearly missed.”