FRANCIS: THE PEOPLE’S POPE

Apr 25, 2025 Letters

---

Dear Editor

I write to express my deepest sorrow and sympathy to the Catholic community in Guyana for the passing of Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church.  In so doing, it may prove useful to share with readers, a brief contemporary history of Guyana’s relationship with the Holy See and the Vatican.

Not long after Dr. Cheddi Jagan assumed the office of President of Guyana, I suggested to him that we explore possibilities of establishing diplomatic relations with the Holy See and the Vatican in Rome, Italy. He agreed. I further suggested to President Jagan that whenever a representative of the Holy See arrives in Guyana and pays a courtesy call on him, he should take the opportunity to broach the subject with him. He agreed.

So, the Apostolic Nuncio representing the Holy See based in Trinidad and Tobago eventually arrived in Guyana in 1996 and paid a courtesy call on President Jagan. I was present at that meeting in my capacity as Foreign Minister.

Within the time available, the two men sat and discussed a range of issues including problems associated poverty, human rights, the foreign debt and debt relief, which at that time was a major international issue championed in by leaders from the global south but particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean by Fidel Castro and the then Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez.

When President Jagan explained to the visitor the difficulties he was encountering with the international financial institutions in respect to his demands for debt relief such as debt write-offs or rescheduling to help Guyana as one of the most heavily indebted countries, the visitor remarked that the foreign debt was not an act of God but an act by man and should be resolved by man.

The Holy See’s representative nevertheless, took note of President Jagan’s interest in the matter and offered to transmit his concerns to his principals in Rome.  And when President Jagan suggested the establishment of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the Holy See his suggestion was warmly welcomed by the visitor. I as Foreign Minister was instructed to initiate the process. About one year after, on June 9, 1997, Guyana established diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

During the same meeting, President Jagan informed the visitor that he will be traveling to Rome in November of the same year to participate in the UN sponsored World Food Summit. The suggested was made that although Guyana and the Holy See did not have diplomatic relations, nevertheless, it would be useful for President Jagan to pay a courtesy call on Pope John Paul while in Rome. It was agreed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana would collaborate with the Holy See’s diplomatic mission, or Apostolic Nunciature, based in Trinidad, the equivalent of a full-fledged diplomatic mission to bring re this agreement to fruition.

While we were at the World Food Summit, I was advised that a date and time was set for the courtesy call on John Paul to take place at the Vatican.

On the appointed day and time President Jagan, me and Fazal Ali of the Rice Producers’ Association visited with the Pope who warmly welcomed us.

The Pope and the President discussed the outcome of the Summit and its likely impact on governments and NGOs around the world. Challenges arising from global poverty, hunger and human suffering were also discussed. President Jagan raised his concerns with respect to the foreign debt and his appeals for debt relief. He briefed the Pope on his call for a New Global Human Order. The Pope indicated his support. For his part, the Pope informed the President that, earlier, he made a call for debt relief describing it as “an investment not only in the development of poor countries but also in the security of rich nations.” adding that; “debt relief must be heeded on moral and ethical grounds. “

I was happy to see that his successor, Pope Francis continued in a similar philosophical and ideological direction throughout his years at the Vatican so much so he became known as the’ People’s Pope’ because he reached out to the poor and dispossessed, the marginalized and oppressed.

Pope Francis was once quoted as saying; “What is built on the basis of force and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.” As the spiritual leader of an estimated 1.3 billion Catholics around the world including Guyana, Francis pushed back against world leaders who demonized migrants, the poor and the marginalized for political gain. Pope Francis repeatedly warned of a return of authoritarianism, and nationalism’s tendency to reintroduce history’s horrors in reference to the era of fascism.

He looked out for, and spoke up, for the world’s long-suffering people, including the Palestinian people in Gaza and the Occupied Territories. His was the voice of those who have no voice.

He cared for migrants, safeguarded the health of the planet and protected human rights

He was the Pope of the poor, of the migrants, of the incarcerated.”  Millions around the world mourn Francis’ death, believing that with his passing, a huge void has been created. Let’s hope that his successor will continue to uphold and spread his legacy.

Yours faithfully,

Clement J. Rohee

---

---