President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, reflected on the “humility” of Pope Francis, a “simple” leader who discovered “Portugal and Fatima later in his life, in 2017,” culminating in the World Youth Day held less than two years ago.
“We will hold dear the humility of the parish priest, never surrendered to the robes of the cardinal pope. Simple, generous, understanding, and supportive,” he noted during an address to the nation on Monday night at the Belém Palace in Lisbon.
Marcelo described the Argentinian Pope as “perhaps the most courageous voice” among “spiritual leaders of the last 12 years”, advocating for “human dignity, peace, justice, freedom, fraternity, and dialogue between cultures and civilizations, with preference for the poorest, the fragile, the suffering, the sacrificed, oppressed, and forgotten of our time.”
Follow here AO MINUTO the reactions to the death of Pope Francis.
Notícias ao Minuto | 09:18 – 21/04/2025
The Portuguese head of state also expressed gratitude to Francis for the “affection he showed towards Portugal”.
“But above all, for his presence alongside those who perish as victims of daily denials of human rights, abuses, and dominance, of migration issues. On behalf of all Portuguese, believers and non-believers alike, I thank Francis for the affection he devoted to Portugal,” the President added.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a practicing Catholic, remarked on Francis’ “intense connection” to Portugal.
The head of state highlighted the canonizations of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, Bartolomeu dos Mártires, and the World Youth Day, which he described as an “unforgettable moment of Portuguese presence in the world.”
“Remembering Francis is to continue our journey with him. As he was with us until the last day, yesterday [Easter Sunday], in Rome, always without fear. His struggle is not that of a creed, a church, a chosen nation, a race, a caste, an ideology, a predestined human being. His struggle is for everyone, today, tomorrow, and forever,” he remarked.
Pope Francis passed away on Monday at 88 years of age due to a stroke, following 12 years of a papacy marked by battles against sexual abuse, wars, and a pandemic. Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Francis was the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church.
He was hospitalized for 38 days due to bilateral pneumonia and was discharged on March 23.
His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday at the Vatican, the day before he died.
Read here, the full declaration from the President of the Republic regarding the death of Pope Francis.
[News updated at 22:29]
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