H.R. No. 945
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, People the world over are mourning the loss of Pope
Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88,
shortly after offering his Easter Sunday blessing to the faithful
gathered in the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square; and
WHEREAS, Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis was the son of Mario
and Regina Bergoglio, and he was deeply influenced by his
grandmother, Rosa Bergoglio, who had been active in the Catholic
Action movement in Italy before the family emigrated to Argentina;
at age 12, he entered a school run by Salesian priests, who
instilled in him a sense of duty to the poor, and he accepted his
calling at the age of 16; he was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969;
and
WHEREAS, Pope Francis was appointed to lead the Jesuit order
in Argentina in 1973; during the "Dirty War" that took place during
the rule of the country's repressive military junta, he quietly
worked to save the lives of many people; he went on to serve in
Germany and then in the Argentine city of Córdoba; in 1992, he was
named auxiliary bishop of the Buenos Aires diocese, and six years
later, he became archbishop; during his time in that role, he helped
relieve the suffering caused by Argentina's economic crisis,
organizing food kitchens, tripling the number of priests assigned
to the slums, and building schools and drug rehabilitation centers;
and
WHEREAS, Named a cardinal in 2001, he became a leading voice
in the church; by the time Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in 2013,
Pope Francis was preparing for retirement; instead, he was elected
pope, becoming the first Jesuit and the first member of the church
from Latin America to serve as pontiff; he was also the first to
choose the name Francis, and like St. Francis of Assisi, he
embraced a humble life of service to the most vulnerable;
demonstrating good humor and an avuncular charm that belied his
steely determination, he became a global voice for justice and
compassion; he took more than 40 trips abroad, many to places long
overlooked, in order to meet with his flock and build interfaith
bridges; at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he offered hope and
consolation via regular video livestreams; he involved Catholics
worldwide in a process of renewal, engaging the laity, welcoming a
variety of opinions, and choosing many cardinals from Latin
America, Asia, and Africa; even as he grew frail and battled ill
health, he continued to travel widely, especially striving to bring
peace to war-torn regions; and
WHEREAS, Now, with the death of this beloved pope, Cardinal
Kevin Farrell of the United States has become acting head of the
Vatican until a new pontiff is elected; born in Ireland, Cardinal
Farrell is a naturalized U.S. citizen and spent many years
ministering in the U.S., particularly as the Bishop of Dallas; he
now holds the position of camerlengo, temporarily overseeing the
day-to-day administration of the Vatican and making arrangements
for the upcoming conclave in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next
pope; and
WHEREAS, Another adopted Texan, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who
was previously the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of
Galveston-Houston and was recently succeeded by Archbishop Joe S.
Vásquez, will vote in the upcoming conclave for the election of the
new pontiff; and
WHEREAS, Pope Francis was a transformative figure, and he
will remain a tremendous source of inspiration, not only to his
fellow Catholics, but to countless people who have been heartened
by his message of enduring mercy and love; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Pope Francis and
extend deepest condolences to all who mourn his passing.
Anchía
Craddick
Thompson
Moody
Phelan
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan Alders Guillen Morgan
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz Allen Harless Muñoz
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble Anchía Harris Noble
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson Barry Harrison Oliverson
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan Bryant Hopper Phelan
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson Buckley Howard Pierson
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa Bucy Hull Plesa
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson Cain Johnson Richardson
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal Cole King Rosenthal
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield Cook LaHood Schofield
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons Curry Leach Simmons
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth Fairly Lujan Toth
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair Flores Luther Troxclair
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner Frank Manuel Turner
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo Gates Metcalf Vo
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle Gerdes Meyer Walle
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 945 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on April 24, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener