Born Dec. 17, 1936
to loving parents - eldest of 5; his sister Elena survives him
Became a priest; joined Jesuit order; was Church Bishop
Dared to be a Christian leader in the face of autocracy
Was favored to succeed a next Pope when John Paul II
(another non-Italian church leader) died after a long illness
He managed during the interim papacy of Benedict XVI
(Josef Ratzinger of Germany) and then was elected as
a needed church leader when Benedict suddenly retired;
he was elected by the College of Cardinals in 2013
in the Sistine Chapel; his tenure and amazing influence
at the world-level was between 2013 and yesterday -
April 20, 2025 (Easter Sunday in both the R. Catholic
and Eastern Rite and Orthodox reckonings) -- also
the summit of the Church Year for most all Protestants
around the world as well.
He died in his sleep with angels watching over him.
Further detail - People of many nations have made the trek
to St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City in praise but fervently
in grief; his coffin will be sealed Friday Apr. 25 and the
Funeral held at 10 a.m. local Time Sat. April 26. Present
at that tightly secured service will be world dignitaries,
others invited of common stock and the poor of Rome.
His body will go in a procession to be buried at Santa
Maria Maggiore after the morning Funeral to be
watched around the globe.
We mourn the loss of him over an extended period
this month and for many months and years to come!
Miserando atque eligendo
[LATIN : having mercy
he called him ] !
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