Interview with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Paul Gallagher
"Pope Francis Was the Voice for the Voiceless"
It has been reported that Pope Francis once expressed his wish to "work until the very end and die while still working," despite those around him urging him to reduce his workload during his lifetime.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, mourners are paying their respects at the underground chapel of Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the funeral altar for Pope Francis, who passed away on the 21st (local time), was set up. 2025.04.22 Photo by Joint Press Corps
In an exclusive interview with the BBC on the 25th (local time), Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, stated that Pope Francis continued to work so diligently because he recognized the opportunity to help the powerless. Gallagher, who has served as Secretary for Relations with States since 2014 and accompanied the Pope on overseas trips, recalled that the last time Pope Francis took a vacation was "66 or 67 years ago."
He said, "He was the voice for the voiceless," emphasizing, "He was always aware that the overwhelming majority of people are powerless and cannot control their own destinies." He explained that the Pope wanted to contribute, even in a small way, to improving the lives of the powerless.
Archbishop Gallagher noted that while Pope Francis was polite, dignified, and highly empathetic, he was also very clear about what he wanted. As a result, he sometimes acted contrary to the advice of those around him. Gallagher added, "One of the things I always admired about him was that he never ran away from difficult things," but also admitted, "However, I did not always agree with this attitude of his from the very beginning."
After his election in 2013, Pope Francis chose the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean as his first destination outside Rome. There, he met and comforted refugees from the Middle East and Africa. During his papacy, he visited more than 60 countries, including some that his close aides advised against visiting. In particular, when the Pope expressed his intention to visit the Central African Republic, his aides tried to dissuade him, saying it was "too dangerous," but, according to Archbishop Gallagher, the Pope insisted, "I will go anyway. If no one else will go, I will go alone." In addition, earlier this year, after being treated for severe pneumonia and discharged from the hospital on the 23rd of last month, the Pope quickly resumed external activities, disregarding medical advice to minimize contact with outsiders for at least two months.
Gallagher said that the last thing Pope Francis said to him, two weeks before his passing, was, "Don't forget your sense of humor." Gallagher added that this reflected the Pope's down-to-earth personality.
Meanwhile, on the 21st, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88. After his election as Pope, he kept his vow to serve the Vatican without pay and to lead a life of lifelong poverty. In fact, it is reported that after his death, he left behind only $100 (about 140,000 KRW) in assets.
With the passing of Pope Francis, the Conclave?a secret meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope?is expected to be held next month. Among Koreans, Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik holds both voting rights and eligibility, making him a notable candidate for the next pope.
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