Was Francis a left-wing pope? Rarely have Socialists, Greens and La France Insoumise (LFI, radical left) party members ever been so inclined to embrace a pontiff's legacy as much as that of Pope Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, who passed away on Monday, April 21. While some saw his predecessors, Benedict XVI and John Paul II, as staunch conservatives whose progressive commitments were too rare, they saw Pope Francis, on the other hand, as having enjoyed a popular grace.

Many French left-wing figures paid the deceased pope great hommage, from the leader of radical La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, to the head of the Socialists, Olivier Faure and former president François Hollande. The tributes contrasted with the reactions of the right and far right, who saw Francis as a much too progressive figure, even "a woke pope," to quote far-right politician Philippe de Villiers.

When he was appointed in March 2013, the Argentine priest Bergoglio chose to place his papal reign under the patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi, who chose a life of poverty and is one of the most popular saints outside of the Catholic Church's establishment. He matched this symbol with his words, turning away from performing rites in Latin, enduring criticism from traditionalist fringe groups, and embracing an unfeigned simplicity by turning down the Vatican's opulence in favor of a modest Roman apartment. "In his words and deeds, he sought the return of the poor Church to serve the poor," praised the left-wing independent mayor of the Marseille, Benoît Payan, whose city had hosted him in September 2023.

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