Catholic Medical Association Mourns the Passing of Pope Francis
April 21, 2025
Philadelphia, Pa. – April 21, 2025 –The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) joins the global Catholic community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a faithful shepherd whose tireless witness to the Gospel touched the hearts of millions and shaped the moral conscience of the world. His deep concern for the sick, the poor, and the vulnerable profoundly influenced the practice of healthcare and the defense of human dignity around the globe.
As a Holy Father with a heart for healing, Pope Francis continually reminded the world that care for the sick is more than a profession—it is a vocation of compassion. He called on healthcare professionals to be “missionaries of mercy,” serving not just the body, but the whole person, created in the image and likeness of God.
“Pope Francis called us to a higher standard,” said Dr. Michelle Stanford, President of the Catholic Medical Association. “He challenged physicians, nurses, and all healthcare professionals to see Christ in the sick and to resist cultural trends that devalue life. His leadership helped reignite a sense of sacred duty in Catholic healthcare.”
Under his papacy, Pope Francis defended the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, and he consistently affirmed the Church’s unwavering commitment to a pro-life ethic. He stood firm in promoting conscience rights for medical professionals, urging respect for the deeply held moral and religious convictions that guide their care. He emphasized that true healthcare respects both science and conscience, and that human dignity must never be sacrificed for efficiency or ideology.
CMA remains committed to advancing the principles Pope Francis so boldly proclaimed: to care for the whole person, to safeguard the gift of life, and to ensure that the freedom to serve according to one’s conscience remains protected in every healthcare setting.
As we mourn his death, we give thanks for his life—a life poured out in service to Christ and His Church. May eternal light shine upon him, and may his legacy continue to inspire a new generation of faithful medical professionals.
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The Catholic Medical Association is the largest national association of Catholic healthcare professionals. CMA seeks to inform, organize, and inspire its members to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the science and practice of medicine.
Media inquiries, please contact:
Nadia Smith
Director of Communications