In a 20 May 2025 editorial in Anabaptist World, editor Paul Schrag reflects on Pope Francis’s legacy of humility and ecumenical outreach. In it, he notes the groundbreaking work of Bridgefolk and interviews longtime leaders Marlene Kropf and former abbot John Klassen.
by Paul Schrag
20 May 2025
Anabaptist World
Francis Like every pope, Francis was the world’s leading Christian cleric, but the similarity ended there. Distancing himself from institutional power, he inspired by moral example. Francis championed a compassionate faith that stood in contrast to authoritarian forms of Christianity rising today.
Servant leadership? That was Francis. In an unprecedented gesture of humility in 2013, he washed and kissed the feet of four inmates, including two women and a Muslim, at a juvenile detention center in Rome. It was the first time a pope included women in this ritual.
A voice for migrants, the poor and marginalized? That was Francis. Addressing a joint session of Congress in 2015, he reminded U.S. lawmakers that America was built by immigrants. “We, the people of this continent,” he said, referencing his Argentinian roots, “are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.”
An advocate for faith-based environmental care? That was Francis. In a landmark 2015 encyclical, he declared Christian values align with action to mitigate climate change. He emphasized the biblical basis for creation care and cited irresponsible lifestyles as a cause of the climate crisis.
For Mennonites, Francis was a kindred spirit, a model of peace, humility, simplicity and stewardship. …
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