Death of Pope Francis – Aid to the Church in Need Canada pays tribute to a pastor close to the poor and the suffering Church
Pope Francis “never forgot persecuted Christians.” Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of ACN Canada
Montreal, April 22, 2025 – Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis yesterday at the age of 88.
Since the beginning of his pontificate in 2013, the Holy Father left his mark on the world through his evangelical simplicity, his attachment to the poor, and his constant concern for persecuted Christians. His message of peace, mercy, and dialogue has continued to resonate far beyond the borders of the Catholic Church.
Marie-Claude Lalonde, national director of ACN Canada (photo), fondly remembers her brief meeting with Pope Francis during a visit to Rome in 2019. She took part in the Holy Father’s blessing of the icon of Our Lady of Sorrows, Consoler of Syrians, a work of art supported by ACN.
“That day, I was deeply touched by his kindness, his simplicity, and his closeness to everyone. He truly embodied the image of a universal pastor, a man for everyone,” she says. “Pope Francis was a prophetic voice in a world that is often indifferent to suffering. He never forgot persecuted Christians or those living on the margins of society. At ACN Canada, we have often found encouragement in his words to continue our mission in the service of the suffering Church. His spiritual legacy is immense.”
Aid to the Church in Need Canada joins the universal Church in praying for the repose of the Holy Father’s soul and invites its benefactors to bear this intention in their hearts.
