As a university rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, we join the universal Church in honoring a leader who tirelessly advocated for peace, human dignity, and the care of our common home.

A Pope for the Peripheries

Within the Ethiopian Catholic Church, Pope Francis will be remembered for how he shifted the Church’s gaze toward the margins. He understood the unique spiritual heritage of Eastern Catholic churches, and his deep respect for traditions like our own Ge'ez rite was evident in his vision of a decentralized, deeply culturally rooted Church.

For a nation that has known both the profound beauty of ancient Christianity and the heavy burdens of conflict, Francis’s constant appeals for dialogue and reconciliation resonated deeply. His encyclical Fratelli Tutti was not just a theological document; for Ethiopian Catholics, it was a practical roadmap for healing and fraternity in the Horn of Africa. He did not just preach from Rome; he walked with us in spirit, constantly elevating the voices of the vulnerable and the displaced.

Condolences from Our University Community

In honoring his memory and his impact on Catholic education, University President Br. Kassu McFantaye officially extended the condolences of our entire academic community to the Holy See.

In his message to the Vatican, President Kassu McFantaye highlighted Pope Francis’s commitment to the youth and his belief in education as a tool for integral human development.

"Pope Francis taught us that education is an act of hope. He challenged universities to not only form brilliant minds but to cultivate compassionate hearts willing to serve the most vulnerable," President McFantaye wrote. "Our university community mourns the loss of a profound spiritual guide, but we remain committed to keeping his vision of an inclusive, merciful, and courageous Church alive in our classrooms and our country."

Carrying the Legacy Forward

As we look toward the future under the guidance of Pope Leo XIV, we carry forward the mandate left to us by Pope Francis. We are called to be a "field hospital," a place of healing, learning, and unwavering faith. We pray that his soul rests in eternal peace, and that his legacy continues to inspire our students to build a more just and fraternal world.

May his memory be eternal.