Pope Francis is described as merciful and modest by members of the Catholic Church in Canberra after his death yesterday at the age of 88.
The pope still recovered from double pneumonia when he died of a stroke and heart attack.
It came as a shock, said Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Canberra Christopher Prowse, while the Pope had appeared on St Peter’s Square to bless those who gathered for Easter Sunday in Rome.
“The death of Pope Francis has been a bit of a shock, although we knew he was very sick, but there he was on Easter Sunday, he gave his blessing to Rome and the world,” said Archbishop Prowse.
An Angelus was held today in St Christopher’s in Manuka to mourn the leader of the Catholic Church.
A coach for the world
Archbishop Prowse said that the Pope was related to the Holy Spirit in the way he “comforted and disturbed the Catholic Church.”
The Pope was a champion for women in the church and in 2023 called on the members of the International Theological Commission to ‘demas’ the church.
In the same year, the Pope made a milestone by allowing Catholic priests to bless couples of the same sex.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse said that Pope Francis loved everyone “. ((ABC News: Joel Wilson))
“Pope Francis in his leadership mainly comforted for those on the periphery and with refugees,” said the Archbishop.
“But he also disrupted, he recorded us and said,” No no no, we have to get closer, to see the light of those who are in the periphery, the lost, the last and the least “and that is exactly what he taught us and will continue to teach us.”
The Archbishop also remembered the accessibility and proximity of the Pope with Catholics around the world.
“If I could use a football analogy, he was not so much a border referee, he was more a coach and the coach here is not only for the Catholic Church, but also for the world,” “
he said.
“He coached the world, to deeper principles about what makes life really worthy, and gives hope to the hopeless,” he said.
‘The church is a place for everyone’
Inhabitants of Canberra attended an angelus in St Christopher’s to pray for the pope.
Aidan Pitt was present, he said Pope Francis had a thunderous impact on his spirituality.
“He encouraged me to reach the whole herd of the world … [he reminded us] That the church is a place for everyone, “he said.
Aidan Pitt went to St Christopher’s today to remember and pray for Pope Francis. ((ABC News Jade Tomey))
Director at a Catholic kindergarten in Canberra, Beth Lehmenisch, agreed.
“He really lived the values of Jesus by contacting the shifts, those who are in our margins, people in prison, women, the LGBTQI community and simply ensure that we first treat people as people,” “
she said.
Tony Bracken, Deputy Director of Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn, said that the Pope who participated in Easter events demonstrated his dedication.
Tony Bracken said he appreciated the presence and leadership of Pope Francis. ((ABC News: Jade Tomey))
“Think about it, the fact that he actually attended the Easter services and then died, is incredible, a final act of service from a very popular, very charitable, compassionate, great leader,” he said.
A secret meeting between Cardinals-a conclave-called-Zal is expected to take place in the next 15-20 days, where a new pope will be chosen.
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