Pope Francis, who passed away today at the age of 88 in the Vatican, was the first Jesuit pontiff of the Catholic Church.
“The world woke up this morning to the sad news of Pope Francis’ death. The Society of Jesus in Portugal unites with the Christian people and all men and women who are mourning this loss. More than a day of sorrow, it is a day of profound gratitude for these 12 years of Pontificate and a lifetime dedicated to following Jesus,” stated the congregation in a communication.
The Portuguese Jesuits express gratitude to Pope Francis for “his inspiring and transformative words directed to the faithful and the world; his invitation to live the faith in joy and ‘going out,’ without fear of embracing everyone; his concern for the most forgotten, the smallest, the most in need, with the awareness that we are all brothers.”
Additionally, they acknowledge “his vigorous and tireless denunciation of an ‘economy that kills,’ putting the planet at risk, the many conflicts that outline the ‘third world war in pieces,’ as well as the sins of the Church itself, such as sexual, power, or economic abuses.”
“We remember his simplicity of life and demeanor, the way he allowed everyone to approach him, the effort to reach all peripheries, geographic and existential, the humility with which he lived his faith and devotion, in silence before the image of Our Lady, sitting in the confessional or exposing his fragility in front of the cameras,” the Jesuits noted in their statement.
The communication also highlights “the decisions and processes initiated to reform structures, in order to build a truly missionary Church, faithful to the Gospel and listening to the Holy Spirit, a synodal Church, where everyone is called to participate in a journey together.”
The Jesuits also recall “the meeting with Jesuit Francis in August 2023,” during the World Youth Day at the S. João de Brito College.
Pope Francis died today at the age of 88, after 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 ascend to the leadership of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis was hospitalized for 38 days due to bilateral pneumonia and was discharged on March 23.
His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday in the Vatican, the day before his death.
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