First Minister Michelle O'Neill remarks on the passing of Pope Francis in the Assembly

Michelle O'Neill has spoken in the Assembly on the passing of Pope Francis. 

The First Minister attended the Pope's Funeral at the Vatican on Saturday. 

Speaking on the Pope's legacy she said:

"Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

I had the privilege as First Minister of attending the Funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday. It was an honour to join with world leaders to pay respects to a man who defined the best of human values.

So, it is with great sadness that I rise to speak today to express my deepest condolences following the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

I extend my sympathies to his family, to the people of Argentina - his homeland - to His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, to Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland, to church leaders across this island, to the Jesuit community, and to Catholics everywhere who are mourning the loss of their spiritual leader.

Pope Francis was a man of deep faith, profound humility, and immense courage. 

He led the Catholic Church through a period of great change, challenge, and renewal - and did so with grace, integrity, and a powerful sense of compassion for all people, particularly the poor and the marginalised.

He was a Pope of firsts:

• The first Jesuit to be elected to the papacy.
• The first Pope from the Americas
• The first from the southern hemisphere and
• The first to take the name Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the poor.

These “firsts” were not symbolic alone.

They reflected his vision of a Church that should walk alongside those on the margins and speak with honesty and courage to the challenges of our time.

He once described himself as “a man from the periphery,” and in many ways, that is how he led. 

• He was the voice of the voiceless in a world increasingly defined by inequality, division, and conflict.
• He spoke in defence of the downtrodden and the displaced, and was never afraid to challenge those in power.

Here in Ireland, many hold a deep and enduring reverence for the papacy - but for Pope Francis in particular, there was a special affection. 

That bond was made all the more evident during his pastoral visit to Ireland in 2018, as part of the World Meeting of Families.

Tens of thousands travelled to see him, and for many, it remains a cherished moment of connection and inspiration.

During that visit, Pope Francis met with survivors of clerical sexual abuse. 

He listened to their pain and publicly acknowledged the “grave errors,” the institutional “failure,” and the “repugnant crimes” committed within the Church. 

His words were both a reckoning and a call to action. 

He challenged the Church - and society - to do more to listen, to protect, and to heal.

He also spoke passionately in support of the peace process on this island. 

He expressed his hope that we would “overcome every remaining obstacle,” and “give birth to a future of harmony, reconciliation and mutual trust.” 

Those words continue to resonate today. 

They serve as a reminder of the work that remains in building a shared, united, and peaceful society for all.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was a progressive voice on many global and social issues. 

He spoke with compassion on LGBTQ+ rights, calling for respect and inclusion. 

He denounced the rise of political extremism and the dehumanisation of migrants.

And in recent years, he emerged as one of the most vocal moral authorities condemning the ongoing war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and access to humanitarian aid.

He challenged the indifference of the global community and reminded us that peace is not passive - it must be pursued with courage and with conscience.

Pope Francis will be remembered as a spiritual leader, a unifier, and a man of deep moral conviction. 

He practised what he preached. 

He lived simply, he led humbly, and he never stopped advocating for the dignity of all people.

His legacy is one of compassion, courage, and hope. 

And his loss will be felt profoundly - here in Ireland, and across the world.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Go raibh míle maith agat."