HIMSS mourns the passing of His Holy Father, Pope Francis, a global leader and unwavering advocate for compassion, equity and justice.

Pope Francis dedicated his papacy to defending the dignity of every human and the belief that healthcare is a fundamental right. “Access to comprehensive healthcare is necessary to build a more just world,” he said.

HIMSS leadership had the honor of engaging with His Holiness in over the past years. Pope Francis offered a message of wisdom, strength and peace to the attendees of the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in 2022. In that message, Pope Francis shared: “In the context of the current challenges posed by economic and social inequalities, His Holiness trusts that the discussions and deliberations of these days will draw attention to the right of all, especially the poor and most vulnerable, to have access to essential and effective healthcare.”

His legacy remains a source of inspiration for HIMSS and its vision: to realize the full health potential of every human, everywhere.

Pope Francis’ moral clarity and compassionate vision will be deeply missed, but his call to action will continue to resonate.