One week before Canadians head to the polls, the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday brought a rare moment of reflection to electoral campaigns as political leaders paid tribute to a Pontiff described as humble, courageous, and compassionate.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney issued a lengthy statement from Ottawa Monday, calling Pope Francis “a shepherd of deep moral clarity, spiritual courage, and boundless compassion.”
“Today, I join Canadians and Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome,” Carney said. “From every corner of the globe, the prayers of the faithful go with Pope Francis as he journeys to his eternal rest.”
Carney recalled his personal engagement with the Pope through the Council for Inclusive Capitalism and praised the Pontiff’s teachings on economic justice and reconciliation.
“He called on us to ‘turn grappa back into wine,’ to reintegrate human values into our economic lives,” Carney said, referencing a 2014 Vatican address. “His Holiness understood, and taught, that value in the market must never eclipse values in society.”
The Prime Minister also noted the Pope’s 2022 apology to Indigenous Peoples in Canada as “an important step of accountability and healing on the shared path toward reconciliation.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre issued his own statement Monday, a day after attending Easter Sunday Mass at Good Shepherd Church in Surrey.
“I offer my deepest condolences to all Catholics on the passing of Pope Francis,” Poilievre wrote.
“His humility, compassion, and steadfast faith had a profound impact on millions of Canadians and others around the world from every faith background.
“We remember especially his historic ‘penitential pilgrimage’ to Canada, when he sought to begin a process of Reconciliation by the Church with his apology ‘for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous Peoples.’
“We join in thankful prayer with the Catholic faithful for his legacy of humble service and his message of love that will continue to inspire a world in need of hope.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also offered his condolences, highlighting the Pope’s commitment to justice and reconciliation.
“Pope Francis showed the world that faith can be a powerful force for justice,” Singh said. “He spoke plainly about poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis — and he challenged political and economic leaders to put people before profits. He didn’t just preach humility and compassion — he lived it. And in doing so, he earned the respect of millions, including many far beyond the Catholic Church.
“His apology to Survivors of residential schools during his visit to Canada was a meaningful step toward truth and accountability — one that brought deep emotions for many Indigenous families and communities.
“His passing is a loss for all who believe in dignity, fairness, and care for one another. His example will not be forgotten.”
Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May, who is Anglican, wrote on social media that “the human family has lost a great servant leader.”
“To his last breath he called for peace in Gaza, for human rights in the U.S.,” she added, noting that Francis also called for action against climate change.
