Preparations for the Pope's funeral ceremony are complete: Who is Pope Francis?

All preparations have been completed at the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church. A ceremony will be held today in St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. Many world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, will attend the ceremony. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmuş is also expected to attend representing Turkey.

The funeral ceremony will begin at 10:00 local time (11:00 Turkish time) and will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. The airspace over Rome will be closed to flight traffic during the ceremony, and 4,000 law enforcement officers will be on duty to ensure security.

WHO IS POPE FRANCIS?

Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was an Argentine-born leader of Italian descent. He went down in history as the first pope elected from South America and the first pope from the Jesuit order. Known for his modest lifestyle, the Pope preferred to stay in a simpler guesthouse rather than the luxury apartments in the Vatican.

Pope Francis maintained a strong stance on issues such as social justice, the fight against poverty, migrant rights, and environmental protection. He drew attention with his criticisms of the excesses of capitalism and his use of more inclusive language toward LGBT individuals and divorced couples. His remark, "Who am I to judge?" became one of the most well-known examples of this approach.

Interfaith dialogue and peace efforts were also significant characteristics of Pope Francis. He sought to strengthen interfaith understanding by meeting with leaders of different faiths, such as Islam and Judaism. With his encyclical letter Laudato si' published in 2015, he issued a powerful call to the Catholic world regarding environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

Pope Francis did not remain silent in the face of global crises; he took a clear stance, particularly regarding the conflicts and civilian casualties in Gaza, and called for a ceasefire. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "unbearable" and urged the international community to take action for peace.

Having initiated reform efforts against corruption within the Vatican, Pope Francis aimed to make the Church more transparent, though he faced significant internal resistance in this regard. With his humble lifestyle, emphasis on social justice, and reform efforts, Pope Francis will be remembered as a leader who left a deep mark on the Catholic world.