Pope Francis’s body may no longer be with us, but he still lives on through his words, especially those said hours prior to his death.
The Pope died on Monday, April 21, aged 88, a day right after he made a public appearance celebrating Easter. In his moving words, he pleaded to the world in a heartfelt and urgent message.
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His death has left an impact
Despite the fact that the Pope suffered from illness right before his death, his death caught the world off guard.
He was admitted to a hospital in February for double pneumonia where he stayed for five weeks and was eventually discharged on March 23.
The pope’s “Urbi et Orbi”
Pope Francis put a one-of-a-kind message for his congregation on Sunday, April 20, titled “Urbi et Orbi,” which translates to “to the city and the world.”
His message was read aloud by his aide Archbishop Diego Ravelli and was released as a statement by the Vatican.
He addressed the ongoing global conflicts
He firstly addressed the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, having previously criticized Israel’s military campaign back in January. In his moving speech, the Pope said: “The growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world is worrisome.”
“Yet at the same time, I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” he continued.
He called for a ceasefire
“I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!” The Pope added.
“There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others. Nor is peace possible without true disarmament! The requirement that every people provide for its own defence must not turn into a race to rearmament,” he said in an emotional call for peace.
He prayed for other countries, too
He included many countries in his prayers, including the Christians in Syria and Lebanon, the Yemenis suffering from the aftermath of the war, the Ukrainians who are still fighting for their lives because of the Russian invasion.
The Pope didn’t forget the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in addition to praying for the western Balkans and the African people, “especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan and South Sudan.”
What is expected to happen over the next few days
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, the Pope left the world to be known as Pope Francis. There will be nine days of mourning (the “Novendiale”) for the Catholics and the Pope’s body will be in state during that time for three days ahead of the funeral.
The Pope stripped his funeral from ritual-filled affairs and he is to be buried outside the Vatican, in Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome, Italy.
