Pope Francis: A Guiding Voice for a Better World

Honouring a leader who championed education, uplifted the marginalized, and inspired our global community. The Varkey Foundation, under the leadership of our Chairman, Mr. Sunny Varkey, joins the global community in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was a profound and unifying voice for peace, human dignity, service, and social justice, showing deep compassion for all—especially those marginalized or affected by the tragedies of conflict. A man of faith who reached across faiths, Pope Francis dedicated his life to building bridges and working alongside people of all beliefs to create a better future for humanity.

We were privileged to engage with Pope Francis on several meaningful occasions. Notably, he announced the winner of the 2016 Global Teacher Prize, Hanan Al Hroub from Palestine and in 2019, our Global Teacher Prize recipient, Peter Tabichi, a Franciscan brother from a remote village in Kenya—had the honour of a private audience with him. Our first Global Student Prize winner, Jeremiah Thoronka from Sierra Leone, also had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis during the launch of Scholas Occurrentes in Rome, an international educational initiative founded by the Pope to foster social integration and a culture of encounter among youth through education.

We remain deeply grateful for Pope Francis’s enduring service, his moral leadership, and the hope he inspired in people around the world.