UNESCO pays tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis

UNESCO grieves the passing of Pope Francis who was a powerful voice for peace and human dignity in the world. A universal advocate for peaceful coexistence, he was a strong supporter of quality education for all, and a close partner of UNESCO’s work. Pope Francis joined forces with the organization on several initiatives, from the Global education coalition to the reconstruction of Christian churches in the old city of Mosul.

In March 2021, soon after the launch of UNESCO’s “revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, the Pope made a historic visit to he old city, and visited the construction site where UNESCO experts and Moslawis engineers worked together to rebuild iconic monuments, including the Al Tahera Syriac Catholic Church destroyed by war. 

Pope Francis was a tireless advocate for peace and an steadfast ally of UNESCO. He made a heartfelt case for education and science contributing to the respect and dignity of humanity, as well as the protection of the environment. - Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

The “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” project included rebuilding precious religious landmarks, as a powerful symbol of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation among religious communities, working side by side in the rehabilitation of iconic monuments, churches, the mosque, the minaret and historic houses. 

The Pope’s visit to the city scarred by war carried with it an important message of peace and inclusion. This is a message echoed in UNESCO’s mandate and in the reconstruction of Mosul where the multicultural spirit of the city was reborn. 

Pope Francis shared this message of tolerance and interreligious dialogue again to UNESCO on an international gathering held for world teacher’s day in October 2021. The meeting, the first of its kind, was organized to promote the Global Compact for Education launched by the Pope in 2019, a vast alliance that brings together all those involved in education to shape the future of our planet.

Pope Francis was a strong supporter and a close partner to UNESCO’s work to promote quality education for all, and its humanizing message of life, freedom and hope. He defended a holistic vision of education, integrating humanities, in a message addressed on the occasion of the first world’s education day, in 2019, and once again a couple of years later, on the 75^th anniversary of the Organization. 

It is for this reason that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a privileged partner of the Holy See in the common service of peace and of the solidarity of peoples, of the integral development of the human person and the protection of the cultural heritage of humanity. - Pope Francis

UNESCO joins the tributes paid to Pope Francis and extend its deepest condolences to Catholics around the world.

I join in the grief of everyone and all of those that he guided, and that he will continue to inspire across the world, - Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General