When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Argentina, was elected Pope in 2013, assuming the name of Francis, the reaction throughout Latin America was nothing less than raising.
Latin Americans, who are mostly Catholics, in the past were neglected by a church that, throughout modern history, turned to Europe when choosing its leadership.
With the election of the Argentine, many identified themselves with Pope Francis, who always defended the rights of migrants, spoke out against the growing division between rich and poor and made a point of speaking on behalf of those who seemed to be forgotten by society.
Before being Pope, Francis has spread the word in some of the poorest slums in Latin America, in times of military dictatorship and national financial crises.
Forged from his experiences in Latin America and with a charisma and a sense of community different from any previous Pope, Francisco left a lasting mark in the lives of millions of Catholics worldwide.
Much of the Argentine’s success as a Pope can be attributed to the common touch he never seemed to have lost.
According to former Ecuador President Rafael Correa, during a meeting with Francis in 2015, the Pontiff joked that many people assumed that, like Argentina’s first pope, whose citizens are famous for his high self-esteem, he would have adopted the name of “Jesus II”.
This makeshift style may have been his greatest asset: in 2015, after the first meeting between Francisco and Cuban leader Raúl Castro, who was in power from 2008 to 2018 as a longtime atheist, exclaimed: “If the Pope continues to talk like this sooner or later, I will pray and return to the Catholic Church.”
Castro’s observation was so out of context that it was not reported by the Cuban state press.
Death of Francisco
First Latin American and Jesuit to take over the Holy See, Pope Francis passed away on the morning of Monday (21), at 7:35 am, due to an irreversible heart stroke and heart failure.
The Pope’s body will be placed in a coffin later this Monday. On the morning of Wednesday (23), will begin the Holy Father’s wake, open to the faithful.
The date of the funeral, a ceremony that will precede the burial of Francis, has not yet been released.
This content was originally published in analysis: Papa Francisco symbolizes change in church in Latin America on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
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