THE National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) expressed profound commotion on Monday (21) in officially pronouncing the death of the Pope Francis .
At a press conference held in Brasilia, CNBB Secretary-General Dom Ricardo Hoepers stated that the church in Brazil says goodbye with the reverence of a pastor who united “words and gestures, tradition and prophecy.”
“Pope Francis leaves us, but we recognize that it was a blessing for our time. With his gestures, washing the feet of prisoners, welcoming migrants and embracing sick, if he saw the good shepherd,” said Hoepers.
For him, the pontiff represented a model of renewal for the church, marked by proximity to the poor, simplicity and special attention to the peripheries.
Francisco was the first Latin American Pope and began his pontificate in 2013 with a gesture that became a symbol of his leadership: before blessing the faithful, he asked them to pray for him.
“He was a close pastor. His love for the Brazilian people has always been manifested with attention and affection,” said Hoepers. He also pointed out that “he was a man of faith and simple,” whose life “filled our heart with hope for better times.”
The apostolic nuncio in Brazil, Dom Giambattista Diquattro, who also participated in the press conference and stated that the announcement of death symbolically coincides with the anniversary of the city of Brasilia, the first capital of a country visited by Francisco during the pontificate.
In an interview with CNN After the press conference, Hoepers also stressed the pontiff’s commitment to mercy and dialogue.
“His first attitude was thought of in mercy, forgiveness, peace. He built bridges, dialogues, visited the most peripheral countries that no pope had visited,” he said.
Hoepers recalled that he was in Rome when Francis was elected and that he closely followed the Pope’s visits.
“He came with joy and disposition, spoke beautifully about Brazil. We felt a lot, the bishops of Brazil,” he said.
The CNBB also highlighted the Pope’s pain in the face of global conflicts and his constant prayer for peace.
“We want to express our sadness and at the same time the renewal of our faith,” added the assistant bishop of Brasilia.
Next Steps
The official death confirmation ritual will be held on Monday night, at 20h (Rome time). A tribute is scheduled for Wednesday (24), at 14:15, in the cathedral of Brasilia, with the presence of Brazilian authorities.
The Pope’s funeral will begin on Wednesday morning at the local time, and the funeral is expected to take place between Friday and Sunday, preceding the burial. Officially, the Vatican reported that the cause of death was stroke, coma and “irreversible cardiovascular collapse.”
In a statement, the CNBB presidency recalled the importance of the Pope’s visit to Brazil during the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, and classified Francis’ as a “pilgrim of hope, humble and courageous pastor, tireless witness to God’s mercy.” According to the bishops, his life was “expression of the tenderness of the Father and sign of universal brotherhood.”
This content was originally published in CNBB highlights the legacy of faith, humility and proximity of Pope Francis on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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