April 21, 2025, will be a day eternally remembered, as it was when the world lost Francis, the Pope who made history during his thirteen years of pontificate. Throughout his public life, the Catholic figure stood out for his humility, concern for the poor, and inter-religious mission. Loved by several countries, he maintained the Church’s traditional views on abortion, marriage, and clerical celibacy.Estadão
The Pope’s trajectory in Brazil
As Brazil is the country with the largest Catholic population in the world (approximately 125 million people), much of the affection for the Pope is found in Brazilian territory.
Initially, when elected in March 2013, his first international trip in office was to Brazil. According to the site Estadão, more than 3.5 million people attended World Youth Day (an annual Catholic religious event that gathers young people from around the world with the Pope) on Copacabana beach. This was the largest official influx of visitors to a single city in Brazil to date, demonstrating Brazil’s symbolic value to the Church.
During his visit, the Holy Father criticized social inequality, calling for attention to the peripheries and the suffering of the poor, in addition to meeting with Dilma (president of Brazil at the time). Current President Lula also met with the Pope in June 2024 during the G7.
What was his relationship with Brazil like?
Francis was the first Latin American pope, as he was born in Argentina, so his relationship with Brazil was always very natural, and he always understood the problems the country faced. With his welcoming manner, he addressed issues such as social justice, the environment, and the rights of the most vulnerable—sensitive topics that always sparked repercussions in Brazil.
In his first speech in Brazil, the Pope highlighted the objectives for young people: “Offer them solid foundations on which to build their lives; guarantee them security and education so they can become what they can be; transmit enduring values for which life is worth living.” Poder 360
Speaking of Bolsonaro, according to the Poder 360 site, the former president’s relationship with Francis had some tense moments. Jair was the only president who never met with the Catholic leader, mainly due to ideological differences. Unlike Francis, Jair Bolsonaro adopted a nationalist, conservative, and economically liberal discourse, with little priority given to issues like the environment and social inequality.
On environmental issues, Francis was always concerned with the Amazon and openly criticized the predatory exploitation of the forest. However, during the Bolsonaro government, there were several international criticisms due to increased deforestation, fires, and conflicts with indigenous peoples.
How does the Brazilian nation proceed after his death?
The death of Pope Francis will certainly have a symbolic and emotional impact on many Brazilians, but it will not affect the nation’s direction itself. More conservative sectors of the Catholic Church may see a possible transition as an opportunity for a change in direction.
Political figures linked to the left (like President Lula) or progressivism are expected to pay tributes highlighting the Pope’s human and social side. More conservative sectors, which frequently criticized Francis, will probably adopt more formal stances, without as much emotional involvement.
EDUARDA DE NADAI GENERATO
Journalist