EASTER SUNDAY 20TH APRIL 2025

 EASTER SUNDAY 20^TH APRIL 2025

By Barbara Thomas

Everyone waited in anticipation, would Pope Francis give the Easter Blessing.

Everyone went quiet when the French windows opened and a very frail figure

In a wheelchair being pushed by a priest bought the wheelchair to a halt on the Balcony of St Peter’s square Bonsilica.

The roar went up; our beloved Pope Francis had come to give his Easter blessing and homily.

Weeks before the Pope had been near to death and after 5 weeks in hospital, he came home which unlike other Popes he chose to live outside the Bonsilica in a 2-bedroom apartment.

The doctors instructed strongly that whilst he was fairly good enough to go home, it was vitally important that he rested so therefore no meetings and that included Royalty, presidents and world leaders.

But the Pope had other ideas.  He met our King Charles and Camilla the Kings consort,

Vice President of the United States of America, the Ukrainian President,           

and many more. All against Doctors orders.

Let me tell you about this extraordinary man who sadly lost his fight just after 7.00am our time. On the 21^st of April 2025 88 years of age.

 

JORGE MARIO BERGUGTIO who years later was to take the name of Pope Francis.

was born in Argentina’s capital BUENOS AIRES on the 17^th December 1936

His father was an Accountant on the railway and an Italian by birth.

He indoctrinated his son Jorge with his obsession of a football club San Lorenzo de Almagro.

Pope Francis would say years later that this was one of the best times in his life.

Jorge would go with his dad to the stadium. Although he also admitted he was no great player and played goalkeeper in matches to avoid the humiliation. The Pope would say later that playing in goal was a great start to get him ready for the school of life. The goalie has to be ready to respond to threats which can arrive from every side.

Wise words for when as Pope Francis he took on the Vaticans “Snakepit”

He started by dismantling the monarchy-style of previous Popes.

He expanded dramatically the number of decision-roles that both lay men and women could hold within the administration.

He would be heard repeatedly saying (about being a goalie makes you aware).

I digress let me tell you more about this amazing person.

One day in 1995 a 16 year Jorge dreamed of being a chemist, on his way to a party he passed a Church and dropped in on a whim to make his confession. Afterwords he said “I felt something had changed, I was never the same, I heard something like a voice or a call I was convinced that I should become a priest.”

He studied at a seminary, but this did not distract him from his other passion ‘The Tango’. Also, during this time, he met a girl and in his own words “I was bowled over for quite a time.”

Jorge eventually chose his faith and particularly the Jesuit Order with its focus on missionary activities and its vow of poverty.

Although whilst he was studying, he worked part time as a bouncer.  Young Jorge took his final vows as a Jesuit priest in April 1973.

This was the year before the outbreak of Argentina’s so called “Dirty War”.

He explained that this was the darkest days of his life. During this time, he was chosen to be the archbishop and had become the leader of the Jesuits in Argentina.

It was felt at the time that as Archbishop he had failed to protect two Jesuit’s priest who had been continually tortured for alleged involvement in left wing activities in 1976, he would always maintain all that could have been done had been done.

Moving forward, as he worked his way through the ranks in 1998 Jorge Mario BERGUGTIO was appointed the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

The archbishop was soon famous for visiting slums the poor and lonely he would use a bus rather than car to get to his flock.

He continued doing this even when he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul, the second in 2001.

Four years later he narrowly avoided becoming the new Pope after Pope John Paul died.

Despite begging his fellow Cardinal’s NOT to vote for him, he still came 2^nd behind Pope Benedict XV.

But in 2013, after continues illnesses a poorly Pope Benedict shocked the world by becoming the first Pope to resign since 1415.

Jorge Mario had not thought of being a contender this time, after all he was now 76 and had already lodged the official paperwork for his retirement.

Many Cardinals strongly believed that the new Pope should be from Latin America home to 39% of the worlds catholic’s.

Then Jorge Mario caught their attention by giving an emotional speech in which he said:

“The church must walk amongst people and be in step with the poor.”

Jorge Mario was voted into the top job on March13th 2013, he joked, “may God forgive you for what you have done.”

When he first appeared on the balcony of St Peter Basilica, he made sure he looked different from any previous plaintiff.  The Pope chose the name Francis as Saint Francis governed the poor sick and lonely. And that’s what Pope Francis always wanted for himself. Therefore, instead of all the pomp of the Vatican he chose to wear a white Cossack and instead of an ornate cross he once again chose his old iron cross.

An Australian Archbishop at the time, Mark Coleridge was later recorded as saying:

“It was clear that this was NOT business as usual.”

So, this is my homage not only to Pope Francis in situ but the man behind the throne, Jorge Mario Bergugtio.

Pope Francis may all the Angels and Saints take you up to the Kingdom of Heaven, you have served his people well and deserve the rest.

 

God Bless may perpetual light shine above you, live in the house of the Lord forever.

Rest in Peace, Amen.

Barbara Thomas