Four Portuguese bishops among those to choose Pope Francis’ successor
Tributes and lamentations have been pouring in from all corners of the globe today, following the announcement early this morning over the death of Pope Francis after a long struggle in hospital for bilateral pneumonia.
The Pontiff only yesterday attended an Easter Mass in Rome’s St Peter’s Square, albeit seated in a wheelchair. His message, read for him because he simply did not have the energy, appealed for peace in the Middle East, the release of the remaining hostages, the end of military conflicts in Ukraine/ Sudan/ the Congo, and the humanitarian treatment of migrants – and afterwards, to the surprise and delight of the enormous throngs attending (estimated at around 35,000 people), he rode in his famous popemobile along the corridors of the square “thanking the faithful” and blessing babies.
This was the second time Pope Francis had made a public appearance since being discharged from over a month in hospital, where at times, he was literally battling to stay alive – and by cruel coincidence, Lisbon’s patriarch Rui Valério cited the event as one of the signs of hope for the world. The other sign, said the patriarch, was Russia’s unilateral declaration of a 30-hour ceasefire. Tragically, neither sign ‘survived’, and now the long process will begin of cardinals choosing Pope Francis’ successor (of which four are Portuguese).
The 88-year-old is being described today as a man whose whole life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and his Church.
Portugal’s political leaders have wasted no time in paying tribute to the religious leader who had such a special place in the world’s psyche, irrespective of people’s own particular faiths. Pope Francis just ‘had something’ that everyone warmed to.
Parliamentary speaker José Pedro Aguiar-Branco was one of the first to express deep sadness this morning, describing Pope Francis’ pontificate as a sign of fraternity, peace and mercy for the Church and the World.
Foreign affairs minister Paulo Rangel carried an image of the moment he met with Pope Francis earlier this year, saying over social media: “I pray for Pope Francis. As a person, as a Christian, as a Catholic, I owe you so much. We owe him so much. In January, I had the grace of being alone with him for more than half an hour. Francis was the Prophet of Example. Everyone, everyone, everyone, will feel, not your absence, but your presence”.
Prime minister Luís Montenegro expressed his condolences, along with those of the government of Portugal, to the Holy See and the Catholics of the world, “which include many millions of Portuguese”. He described Pope Francis as “an extraordinary Pope who left a singular legacy of humanism, empathy, compassion and proximity to people. His visits to Portugal, for the 100 years following the Apparition of Our Lady in Fátima, and World Youth Day, marked our country, and created a very strong link between the Portuguese people and his Holiness (…) The best way to honour his tribute will be to follow his teachings and example on a daily basis, in our different activities”, he added.
PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos, carrying the image used above, posted on social media of his “deep consternation” on learning of the death of Pope Francis this morning.
“Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis was a courageous voice in defence of social justice, human dignity and peace. His spiritual leadership transcended religious and political boundaries, becoming an ethical and moral reference point for millions around the world. He was a Pope for the poor, the excluded and the voiceless. He was a tireless defender of the environment, of solidarity between peoples and of the need for a fairer economy. His legacy will forever be inscribed in the history of our time. On behalf of the Socialist Party and myself, I express our deepest sympathy to the Catholic Church, the Portuguese Catholic community and the Vatican. May his memory continue to inspire all those who believe in a more humane, just and fraternal world”.
It is, without doubt, a sombre moment at a difficult point in time. A moment where everyone is hoping for the sign of hope that Lisbon’s Patriarch evoked only yesterday, but realises how desperately uncertain everything has become. ND
