SYDNEY MUBAIWA
MASVINGO- The Roman Catholic Masvingo diocese will tomorrow hold a memorial mass for the late Pope Francis at St Mary’s Cathedral in Masvingo.
The mass will be presided over by His Lordship Tapiwa Mupandasekwa.
Pope Francis died of cardiac arrest at the age of 88 in Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on Easter Monday April 21, 2025.
His death marks the end of a transformative 12-year papacy that reshaped the Church’s global outreach, emphasizing humility, mercy, and social justice.
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died peacefully at approximately 8:45 AM CEST. Sources close to the Vatican suggest his recent health struggles, including a 38-day hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia from February 14 to March 23, 2025, may have contributed.
Despite showing gradual improvement during his convalescence at Casa Santa Marta, the 88-year-old pontiff’s frail condition was evident during limited public appearances, including a brief Easter Sunday blessing on April 20, 2025, where he was unable to deliver his traditional Urbi et Orbi message himself.
Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, stated, “The Holy Father passed in the simplicity of his residence, surrounded by close aides and medical staff. The Church mourns a shepherd who led with compassion and courage.”
A period of mourning has been declared, and preparations for the papal conclave to elect a successor are expected to begin on May 5.
Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jorge Bergoglio became the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Southern Hemisphere when elected on March 13, 2013.
His choice of the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, signaled his commitment to humility and care for the poor. Unlike his predecessors, he shunned the lavish Apostolic Palace, opting to live in a modest suite at Casa Santa Marta, a guesthouse built in 1996 for visiting clergy and cardinals during conclaves.
Francis’s papacy was marked by bold reforms and a pastoral approach. He prioritized issues like climate change, issuing the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which called for environmental stewardship. His 2016 apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia sparked debate by suggesting greater inclusion for divorced and remarried Catholics. He also made strides in interfaith dialogue, notably signing a 2019 document on human fraternity with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi.
Statistically, Pope Francis oversaw a Church of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide (as of 2023 Pew Research estimates), with significant growth in Africa and Asia. He created 142 cardinals across 10 consistories, diversifying the College of Cardinals with appointments from 69 countries, including underrepresented regions like Tonga and Haiti. His global travels included 44 international trips, covering 60 countries, with a planned visit to Turkey in May 2025 postponed due to his health.
Francis’s final years were overshadowed by health issues. At 88, he battled respiratory ailments, including bronchitis and pneumonia, which required extended hospitalization in early 2025.
Despite doctors prescribing a two-month rest period, Francis remained active, concelebrating daily Mass and meeting briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, to exchange greetings.
His determination to engage with the faithful was evident in surprise appearances, such as a brief blessing at St. Peter’s Square on April 6, 2025, after his hospital discharge.
His health struggles resonated with Catholics, who sent an estimated 150 kg of daily mail to the Vatican during his hospitalization, expressing prayers and support.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, noted Francis’s resolve, saying, “The pope gives his instructions,” even from his hospital bed.
Historical Context and Legacy
Pope Francis’s death follows a papacy that navigated a polarized Church and a world grappling with conflict, migration, and inequality.
His emphasis on “a poor Church for the poor” contrasted with traditionalist critiques of his progressive stances, particularly on issues like same-sex blessings and synodality.
His 2025 Jubilee of Hope, which saw millions of pilgrims flock to Rome, underscored his vision of a Church open to all.
Historically, Francis’s papacy stands alongside those of reformist popes like John XXIII, who convened Vatican II.
His decision to live in Casa Santa Marta, a five-story guesthouse with 106 suites, reflected a break from centuries of papal tradition, aligning with his image as a “pope of the people.”
The last pope to die was John Paul II on April 2, 2005, and Francis’s passing on Easter Monday—a day symbolizing resurrection—carries profound spiritual weight for Catholics.
Tributes poured in on X, with users expressing grief and admiration. One post read, “Sad news for all Catholics and many others across the world… Pope Francis died on Easter Monday,” reflecting the global sentiment. World leaders, including U.S. Vice President Vance, who met Francis hours before his death, are expected to issue statements.
The Vatican has not yet announced funeral arrangements, but tradition dictates a nine-day mourning period (novendiales) and a funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The College of Cardinals will convene a conclave within 15-20 days to elect a new pope, with 129 cardinals under 80 eligible to vote as of April 2025.
Speculation about successors includes Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, though the outcome remains uncertain.
A Shepherd’s Enduring Impact
Pope Francis leaves a Church more inclusive yet divided, having challenged Catholics to live the Gospel through action.
His final Easter homily, delivered by Cardinal Angelo Comastri on April 20, urged believers to “run” toward Christ in daily life, a fitting epitaph for a pontiff who never ceased moving toward the margins. As the Vatican prepares for a new chapter, Francis’s legacy as a voice for the voiceless endures.
