Pope Francis pays tribute to Jean Vanier

Pope Francis receives Jean Vanier at Vatican - 21 March 2014

Pope Francis paid tribute to Jean Vanier as he travelled back to the Vatican after his three-day apostolic visit to the Balkan nations of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

The Holy Father told journalists aboard the papal flight from Skopje to Rome: "I want to express my gratitude for his testimony."

As he prepared for questions put to him during the usual inflight press conference upon his return from an apostolic visit abroad, the Pope's priority was to pay his heartfelt tribute to the man whom, he said, was able to read and interpret the Christian gaze on "the mystery of death, of the cross, of suffering," on "the mystery of those who are discarded by the world."

Jean Vanier, who gave up a career in the Navy to follow in the footsteps of Christ, was the founder of two international organizations for people with learning disabilities: L'Arche' and 'Faith and Light'. He advocated for marginalized people for over five decades, highlighting the profound teachings and the gifts that they offer.

The Pope said he knew of Vanier's illness through Sister Genevieve who kept him informed.

"A week ago I called him on the phone, he listened to me, but he could barely speak" he said.

Pope Francis said that Jean Vanier worked "not only for the least but also for those who, even before being born," risk being condemned to death.

"He spent his life in this way" the Pope concluded: "Thank you to him and thank you God for having given us a man of such great witness."