Yesterday evening, Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, passed away. He was 88 years old and had been Pope for twelve years.
Pope Francis, who had been Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina before his elevation to the Throne of Saint Peter, was a divisive figure in many ways. He soft-pedaled several longstanding Catholic doctrines. He inserted himself and his opinions into many non-theological subjects, to the dismay of millions of Catholics of different views. Yet he was loved, for Catholics have always loved their popes. It’s in the book.
Now there will be a Conclave of the College of Cardinals. There will be speculation about Francis’s successor, including whether the next Pontiff will continue in Francis’s vein or return to the more traditional path Francis’s predecessor Pope Benedict XVI had followed. Talking heads worldwide will natter over these things and others as we await white smoke from the Vatican. It’s understandable that they should do so, for the Pope is the most important mortal on Earth. He wields more influence over the behavior of men than any president or prime minister.
Catholics will pray. It’s what we do.
Eternal rest grant him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
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Francis was not Pope for 17 years. I believe he became Pope in March 2013.
May God have mercy on his soul.
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You’re correct. I fixed it.
The most important mortal on earth? Wow.
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For sure, Charlie. His statements influence the behavior of more than two billion Christians: Catholics and Protestants. That beats the dictator of China by a good margin.
No wonder the world is in such a mess.