Editorial | Path of trust to Beijing forged by Francis is there to be followed
During his 12-year papacy, Francis helped stabilise relations between the Vatican and China, and his successor would be wise to build on consensus
Francis became the first non-European pope for more than 1,000 years. It would have been a fitting fulfilment of a lifetime wish if he had also become the first pope to visit China before he died on Monday.
Instead, however, he may have helped pave the way for a successor to realise that dream one day, thanks to stabilised relations and a reduction in tension between Beijing and the Vatican during his 12-year papacy.
Francis was one of the most progressive and inclusive popes in recent memory, having taken office amid a clash of new and old values.
Testament to that is the growth in the global Catholic flock from 1.27 billion in 2014, a year after his election, to 1.4 billion in 2023, the latest figure, which includes many young people.
That is one objective measure of his leadership at a challenging time for traditional beliefs and value systems. It reflects a balanced, humane and more nuanced approach to many difficult issues.
At the same time the church became more diverse, through growth in the numbers of believers in Asia and Africa. Evidence of that is the mention of Asian and African cardinals in speculation about who might succeed Francis.
Francis did not shrink from inclusive discussion on doctrinal issues or taking a stance on moral questions about issues of our time, often to the dismay of traditionalists.