‘ A legacy of hope’

Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic faithful, died Monday at his residence in the Vatican, just one day after appearing at St. Peter’s Square to offer a public Easter blessing. He was 88.

Francis, sometimes dubbed the world’s parish priest, or the people’s pope, was known for his humility and charm — and was beloved by Catholics in New Mexico for his lifelong championing of immigrants and the impoverished. He was unafraid to kiss and wash the feet of the poor and downtrodden, as a symbol of humility and to bring peace to warring nations, like in Sudan five years ago, and was known for eschewing some of the richer trappings of the Vatican.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Italian immigrants in Argentina, he made history as the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope — also known as the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers. His tenure as archbishop of Buenos Aires was marked by his focus on poverty at a time of civil conflict.

“I feel with the issues that New Mexico is wrestling now — poverty and addiction and the border — I think he represented messages to bring hope and purpose for people, particularly people of New Mexico,” said John Sitler, a religious studies teacher at Albuquerque’s Menaul School.

Introduced as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, he led the Catholic Church in a new direction, ushering in an age of immigrant rights and expanding acceptance of LGBTQ+ communities. Francis named himself after St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century friar known for personal simplicity and care for society’s outcasts.

Reactions worldwide were mixed, with some groups praising the pope for embracing progressive ideals that led to the church changing its stance on the death penalty, to priests being able to bless same-sex marriages, to rebuking nations for stances that harmed immigrants. Other groups admonished the pope for leaving tradition behind.

Francis died of a stroke that put him into a coma and led to heart failure, the Vatican said. He died at 7:35 a.m., a day after leading the Vatican’s Easter Sunday services — but following a tough year marked by an extended hospitalization for pneumonia.

‘A huge impact in New Mexico’

In New Mexico, where 63% of the population identifies as Christian and 27% identify as Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center — making Catholicism the second-largest religious belief in the state — the pope’s influence brought change and attention to certain issues.

In the traditionally Hispanic, liberal and poor state of New Mexico, Francis’ ideals at times matched up with those in the state.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pope established emergency funds that would be issued to “aid of those people and communities who are being tragically impacted by the spread of COVID-19,” the pope once wrote in a statement issued from the Vatican.

Albuquerque and Las Cruces branches were among the several Catholic Charities that received financial support during the pandemic.

“Francis’ pontificate has had a huge impact in New Mexico,” said Kathleen Holscher, associate professor of religious studies and American Studies and endowed chair in Roman Catholic studies at the University of New Mexico.

While Francis never made a trip to New Mexico, local bishops referenced the pope’s mission to reach people outside of the church, like immigrant and queer communities.

Final respects

Francis’ death sets off a weekslong process of allowing the faithful to pay their final respects, first for Vatican officials in the Santa Marta chapel and then in St. Peter’s for the general public, followed by a funeral and a conclave to elect a new pope.

As the sun was setting on Monday evening, the Vatican held a Rosary prayer in St. Peter’s Square in its first public commemoration.

In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried in St. Mary Major Basilica in a simple underground tomb with only “Franciscus” written on it. The basilica, which sits outside the Vatican, is home to Francis’ favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom Francis was particularly devoted.

Editor’s note: See full article on the Albuquerque Journal website at abqjournal.com