Sudheendra Kulkarni: What Gandhi, Saint Francis and Pope Francis have in common

If there is a global fan club for Pope Francis comprising non-Catholics, I want to be its active member. The reason is simple. No other religious leader in contemporary times has been so consistently and passionately vocal on so many pressing challenges before humanity.

He called for urgent global action to save Earth, which he has described as our “common home” in his landmark Laudato si’ encyclical released ahead of the Paris climate summit in 2015. With a bold initiative to advance Christian-Muslim dialogue, he promoted inter-religious concord and understanding. He made strenuous efforts to resolve conflicts and end wars, such as in Syria and Iraq. He also raised a strong voice against the shocking, and growing, levels of wealth disparity that have aggravated the sufferings of the global poor. He appealed for an end to the “spiritual famine” and “globalisation of indifference” that have impaired humankind’s ability to create a better future for itself.

Argentina-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was elected the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013, took his papal title in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy. In the course of my own humble efforts in promoting inter-faith dialogue, I have twice travelled, as a…

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