SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 463
In Memory
of
Pope Francis
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.
Bettencourt
Alvarado Hall Middleton Alvarado Hall Middleton
Alvarado Hall Middleton
Birdwell Hancock Miles Birdwell Hancock Miles
Birdwell Hancock Miles
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Parker Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Parker
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Parker
Cook Huffman Paxton Cook Huffman Paxton
Cook Huffman Paxton
Creighton Hughes Perry Creighton Hughes Perry
Creighton Hughes Perry
Eckhardt Johnson Schwertner Eckhardt Johnson Schwertner
Eckhardt Johnson Schwertner
Flores King Sparks Flores King Sparks
Flores King Sparks
Gutierrez Kolkhorst West Gutierrez Kolkhorst West
Gutierrez Kolkhorst West
Hagenbuch Menéndez Zaffirini Hagenbuch Menéndez Zaffirini
Hagenbuch Menéndez Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 30, 2025, by a
rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Hall Middleton
Birdwell Hancock Miles
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Parker
Cook Huffman Paxton
Creighton Hughes Perry
Eckhardt Johnson Schwertner
Flores King Sparks
Gutierrez Kolkhorst West
Hagenbuch Menéndez Zaffirini