89R25721 BPG-D
By: Bettencourt, et al. S.R. No. 463
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, 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 Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
hereby pay tribute to the life of Pope Francis and extend deepest
condolences to all who mourn his passing.