NOTES BETWEEN PRINTED EDITIONS
LEAGUE MOURNS DEATH
OF POPE FRANCIS
The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts today is mourning the death of Pope Francis—Jorge Mario Bergoglio—who died in Rome, this morning at 7:35am (Central European Summer Time). The Pontiff was 88 years old.
Born in Buenos Aires in the Argentine Republic on December 17, 1936, he was the son and grandson of Italian immigrants.
Elected on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis was the 266th successor of Saint Peter as the Bishop of Rome.
Francis was unique in the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church. He was the first pope from the Western and Southern Hemispheres, the first Latin American pope, the first pope born outside of Europe since the Syrian, Gregory III (d. 741) in the Eighth Century, and the first pope to take the patronal name of the Seraphic Doctor, Saint Francis of Assisi.
Since its foundation, 485 years ago, Francis was the first member of the Society of Jesus to be elected pontiff.
Francis was also, candidly, the first pope in two millennia to be at enmity with the traditional moral teachings and sacramental discipline of the Catholic Faith, and with those orthodox Catholics who adhered to them.
The Catholic Action League urges the Faithful to pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, and to pray that the Holy Spirit may enlighten the minds and enkindle the hearts of the 135 cardinal-electors who will choose his successor.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they might be loosed from sins. 2 Maccabees 12:4
