Vatican announces Pope Francis dies at age 88

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, according to a video statement from the Vatican on April 21. The Pope had suffered from various illnesses during his 12 years as leader of the Catholic Church.

On March 13, 2013, the world witnessed a historic moment when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina was elected the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.

With the name Francis, he became the first Pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit and the first to choose the name of Saint Francis of Assisi - a saint symbolizing poverty, peace and protection of nature.

Born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the eldest child of Italian immigrants. Before entering the religious life, he studied chemical engineering and worked in a laboratory.

In 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus – one of the most intellectual and prestigious religious orders in the Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and gradually took on important roles, from provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina to archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.

In 2001, he was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

Before becoming Pope, Cardinal Bergoglio was famous for his simple lifestyle, closeness to the poor, frequent travel by public transport and rejection of luxury.

It was this style that followed him to the Vatican, when he decided not to live in the traditional papal residence, but instead chose to live in the Casa Santa Marta – the residence of priests working in the Vatican.

From his first days as Pope, Francis has attracted attention with his simple style and powerful messages of mercy, humility and service.

He repeatedly called on the Church to “go out of itself” to reach out to the poor and marginalized. Instead of emphasizing strict rules, he focused on forgiveness, companionship and love.

In 2015, the Pope issued the encyclical "Laudato Si'", calling for the protection of the Earth as humanity's "common home", while emphasizing the link between the environmental crisis and social injustice.

Pope Francis has not shied away from confronting controversial issues within the Church, and has demonstrated an open and dialogical attitude. He has called for the Church to approach homosexuals with respect, to reconsider how it accompanies the divorced, and to expand the space for women in leadership roles. While he has not changed traditional doctrine, his gentle and humane approach has brought a breath of fresh air to the global Church.

Pope Francis has held several symbolic meetings with leaders of other faiths, such as the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the Grand Shia cleric of Iraq, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. These contacts demonstrate his ongoing efforts to build interfaith dialogue and reduce religious conflict.

The encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” published in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is an invitation to humanity to build fraternity, overcoming hatred and individualism. In it, he called on nations, religions and individuals to act as brothers and sisters – without borders, without discrimination.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/vatican-thong-bao-giao-hoang-francis-qua-doi-o-tuoi-88-250107.html