Our unforgettable
memories of Pope
Easter Monday was a very sad day for us rejoicing Christians as we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and of a sudden we received the passing of our beloved Pope Francis, where the world witnessed his blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) and then surprisingly moving in his pope mobile to greet the faithful gathered at St Peter’s square at the Vatican.
As one of the recipient of the Papal Honor - Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice - from late Pope, now Saint John Paul II during the Jubilee Year 2000 when ten of us parishioners of Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain, had opportunity to attend the Papal Mass of Pope Francis on 5 November, 2022 through the invitation of previous Apostolic Administrator of Arabia, Bishop Paul Hinder, during the Pope’s visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain from 3-6 November, 2022, where my wife and myself had the privilege to attend Pope Francis’s Mass seated on the first row to partake in the Eucharistic Celebration amongst the thousands gathered.
As we mourn the death of our dear Pope, who worked for the down trodden, to bring peace in the warring countries, the champion of the poor. Rest in Peace our beloved Pope Francis.
John Rebello, Old Goa
Tell the world of his love
Pope Francis leaves his flock 12 years after his papacy. A fatherly religious world leader always wanting to meet his followers standing in long queue, embracing, blessing everyone wherever His Holiness went to visit will be missed by many henceforth never to be seen again in our midst. Little ones and more particularly, young mothers, some with just born new ones holding in their arms, waited to meet the Pope when passing by with the hope that he will bless them all. Indeed, while waving out to all if the Pope saw anyone wanting to meet him he would stop his Pope mobile, call out the waiting standee and moved ahead more particularly children and even the new born, held them so tenderly and returned to the mother pushing some souvenir into the hand of the children that they all will remember him in their life time. Indeed, they will now more fondly that his presence is not with us any more.
His Holiness cared as much for the suffering ones, the lonely, the marginalized, more the poor. Rightly so, Pope Francis gave away in charity whatever he was gifted with in the true spirit of the Jesuit, he himself being one, like St. Francis Xavier who turned away from this world once he realized the emptiness of life staying attached to this world. And the list goes on of his goodness to talk about to this world. Pope Francis will be missed very much once he is permanently put to rest in the Basilica of St. Mary Major which he visited very often to pray but will inspire many to walk in his footsteps to making life meaningful with love, affection and personal touch.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Champion of
world peace
In the death of Pope Francis, the world has lost a genuine and humble human, who dedicated and reached out to all in particular to the poorest and most marginalised. Leading by example, he will always be remembered as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and underprivileged and for his compassion by a tireless commitment for the common causes and benefits of ordinary people.
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope was very inspiring and had an extraordinary human memory. Ever so, candid and upright, always walking the talk and speaking his mind. He was passionate about saving the environment and dealing with the adverse effects of climate change. He reached out to different faiths and his immense contribution to promoting inter faith dialogue was appreciated by all. While striving for World Peace, he wanted leaders in power to conduct themselves with humility, kindness and respect for each other.
History will record that all through his thirteen years as Pope and until the very last, he was close to the people. Even on this Easter Sunday, the Holy Father with determination and love made his final public appearance by greeting and giving his apostolic blessing to the people and the world in St Peter’s Square.
A true tribute to our departed Pope would be for all world leaders to emulate his rich legacy and to work tirelessly towards lasting and sustainable World Peace and end all acts of war and aggression currently going on in various parts of the world. His mission on earth accomplished, may Pope Francis continue to bless us while he now rests in eternal peace as he makes his journey to the House of God awaited by the Lord.
Aires Rodrigues, London
World bids adieu to ever
smiling Pope Francis
The body of the late Pope Francis was transferred to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday to lie in state until his funeral today morning. The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10 am local time, 1.30 (IST) in St Peter’s Square. The mass will be concelebrated by Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and priests from across the globe. The Eucharistic celebrations will mark the beginning of the nine days mourning and masses for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. The world will today bid adieu to one of their most beloved Pope who won the hearts of millions across the globe. He will be remembered forever as the people’s Pope who led a down-to-earth life and a life devoted to the 1.3 billion Catholics spread across the globe. But most of all Pope Francis will be remembered for his smile.
He always wore an infectious smile. Incidentally Pope Francis beatified Pope John Paul I who was described as the “smiling Pope” and was one of the shortest serving pope in history. Pope John Paul I was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco