Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker recently commented on the legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, stating, “He was braked” (“Er wurde erkennbar ausgebremst”), suggesting that the late pontiff faced significant resistance in his efforts to reform the Catholic Church. Juncker’s remark, shared in a post on X, reflects his view that Francis’s progressive agenda—marked by calls for inclusivity, social justice, and a more pastoral approach—encountered obstacles, likely from conservative factions within the Vatican and the broader Church.
Juncker, who previously praised Francis for his moral leadership during the 2016 Charlemagne Prize ceremony, highlighted the pope’s commitment to European values and refugee advocacy, noting that Francis’s actions, like bringing 12 Syrian refugees back from Lesbos, inspired courage. His latest comment aligns with sentiments expressed by others, such as Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who described Francis as a figure of authenticity and mercy, yet acknowledges the challenges he faced. The phrase “he was braked” encapsulates the tension between Francis’s transformative vision and the institutional inertia or opposition that hindered his reforms, a theme echoed in analyses of his papacy, which note his struggles with the Curia and conservative resistance.