English 
This is not an article. It is just gratitude. Muslim friends and acquaintances offer their condolences on the death of Pope Francis.
I feel that on the one hand they address words of sympathy to us because our spiritual leader has died, so it is out of closeness to us, out of affection for us. They have heard the news, we are the Christians they know. Some, of Christians, only know us four nuns. So it is to us that they say closeness.
On the other hand, it is because it is Pope Francis. Because it is him, such a pope, for what he has said, for what he has done.
We just want to share some of their expressions that they have written or phoned us.
Mahi, a doctor who participates in the literary café we hold every month at our Cultural Centre in Mascara, writes on the literary café group:
My condolences to our Christian friends. Yes, he was the pope of the poor, the marginalised, those who do not count. He had the courage to denounce the genocide in Gaza and President Trump’s policy of expelling migrants. On l’a aimé, we loved him. Mahi.
Schahinaz, a pharmacist friend with whom we do many things together:
My greetings to the sisters and to Father Raymond. This Easter 2025 is marked by the departure of the Pope to God. Let us pray for him and for his successor. Francis set the church in motion and insisted on God’s mercy, dialogue with other religions and human and environmental ecology, and shed light on abuse. His last encyclical is a summary and a testament. Sincere condolences, with friendship, Schahinaz.
And then Amin her husband:
Our condolences for the Pope, with sadness. Peace to his soul. Amin.
Safia, mother of the family:
Ma soeur, we have just heard of the death of Pope Francis, peace be upon his soul. May God receive him into his vast Paradise. Sincere condolences, Safia.
Karima volunteering:
My sincere condolences to you on the death of the Holy Father.
Ghilas’s mother, from Algiers:
Rest in peace, Pope Francis!
Zoulikha, who as a young man worked at Caritas Algiers:
Dearest Gabriella, I come to present my sincerest condolences on the death of the pope, may God grant him his mercy and welcome him into his vast Paradise. My condolences to you all, with affection and a hug, Zoulikha.
Ghoffrane, from Ghardaia, from the south, telephones; Yannis, a sick young man, telephones; the Chauch family, who were our guests at Torre Gaia, telephones; Dr Amel, an ophthalmologist, telephones from Algiers; Sr Senia remembers her because she did a minor eye operation.
Simple condolences from the staff working with us at the Mascara Cultural Centre, from several people who frequent it
Thank you all.
And we point out a link that concerns the entire Arab world:
https://www.oasiscenter.eu/it/come-la-stampa-araba-ricorda-papa-francesco
Sr. Gabriella, Mascara community
From other places
The news of Pope Francis’ death swept across the world like a silent but powerful wave, reaching hearts and lands far and wide. The words we receive in these days speak not only of grief for the loss of a man, but also of gratitude for the shepherd he was.
From Bissora in Guinea Bissau, Ianaba writes:
It is a time of great sorrow for all Christians around the world. We ask God to forgive his sins and receive him in his glory; we ask him to console all Christians in the Catholic Church who have faith and to give them strength and unity forever.
It is the simple and profound voice of a faith that embraces, that prays, that hopes even in sadness.
And from Monza, Italy, Bruna adds:
Give him our greetings and our enormous thanks for showing us the most beautiful humanity and for being a Good Shepherd.
It is the feeling of so many who have recognised in Pope Francis the tenderness of God, the closeness of a father, the courage of a prophet.
