By Deogratias Mmana:
As he took over the papacy on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis mentioned the word “Earth” right in the opening paragraph of his brief inaugural address at the St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
He did not use ‘nation’. He did not name his country either.
“You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the Earth to get him … but here we are,” he said.
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He was referring to his being the first to have come from the far-flung corner called Argentina and the Americas to be head of the Catholic Church, a community of more than 1.4 billion people today.
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But throughout his life, Pope Francis was a man of the earth and for the earth – about its health, about the welfare of its inhabitants and about how we must live in harmony with it and with each other.
Through his various encyclicals, he preached peace, hope and love for one another and care for the Earth.
His Laudato Si encyclical of May 2015 was particularly more direct about how human kind has ruined “our sister, Mother Earth” with consumerism, irresponsible economic policies, environmental degradation and global warming.
Not surprising that its theme to his predecessors who were buried in three nesting coffins made of cypress, lead and oak accordingly to the BBC.
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He will be remembered for preaching and living humility, fighting for the marginalised and promoting conservation of nature.
He is described in some circles as the ‘People’s Pope’.
Choosing a new pope
After the funeral, cardinals, the Catholic Church’s most senior figures appointed by the Pontiff, will meet to select a new pope in a conclave.
In the conclave, the cardinals take an oath of absolute secrecy and are not permitted to have contact with the outside world for the entire period of the election.
Their phones are removed. They have no access to newspapers, television, letters or messages.
The Sistine Chapel is also swept for listening devices before and during the conclave.
After Pope Francis’ burial, the world awaits that significant moment: the announcement of a new pope.
High on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square and after smoke has issued through the chimney of the chapel, a majestic window will open to the world.
Then a cardinal will pronounce: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum….Habemus papam “ [I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope.]”
A new era will begin with the 267th pope for the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis life
He was born Jorge Mario Bergolglio in Buenos Aires in Argentina on December 17, 1936, the son of Italian immigrants.
He graduated as a chemical technician and then decided to go to priesthood.
On March 11,1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus.
He rose through the ranks, appointed as cardinal by Pope John Paul II on February 21, 2001.
He was elected Supreme Pontiff on March 13, 2013.
On February 14, 2025, he was admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment. He stayed in hospital for 38 days.
As Christians celebrated Easter on Sunday, Pope Francis appeared to the crowds at St Peter’s Square.
He blessed them and wished them a good Easter.
That was the last time the world would see him. He died on Monday. Today, he returns to the earth he came from.
