Remembering His Holiness Pope Francis, Servant Of The Servants Of God

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Pope Francis died Monday aged 88 following a battle with chronic lung disease. His is remembered as the first Pope of the Americas, and by his official title His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the Servants of God.

Who Was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergogolio on December 17, 1936 in Argentina. He was the son of Italian immigrants, an accountant and housewife, according to the Vatican. He first heard his calling at 17 during confession, CBN reported. Though he studied and graduated as a chemical technician, he joined the priesthood at the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto, before entering the novitiate of the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958. (MORE NEWS: ‘America Has Put Our Trust In God’: Trump Delivers Blunt Message To Those Trying To Rid US Of Faith)

His early career was highly academically focused, with specializations in the humanities, philosophy, before going on to teach literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé, and at Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires. Even after teaching, he went back to earn his degree in theology in 1967-70 at the Colegio of San José.

Joining The Priesthood

He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969 by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano before continuing his training until 1971 at University of Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

“Back in Argentina, he was novice master at Villa Barilari, San Miguel; professor at the Faculty of Theology of San Miguel; consultor to the Province of the Society of Jesus and also Rector of the Colegio Máximo of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology,” the Vatican writes of this time in his life. (MORE NEWS: One Group Of American Christians Holds A Bigger Biblical Worldview Than Majority Of Pastors)

By 1973, he was appointed Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held for six years before resuming his work in academia until 1986. He moved to Germany to complete his own doctoral thesis the same year. “It was Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who wanted him as a close collaborator. So, on 20 May 1992 Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. On 27 May he received episcopal ordination from the Cardinal in the cathedral. He chose as his episcopal motto, miserando atque eligendo, and on his coat of arms inserted the ihs, the symbol of the Society of Jesus.”

The 1990s Through 2013

After giving his first interview as bishop to a parish newsletter, he was immediately appointed Episcopal Vicar of the Flores district, as well as being “entrusted with the office of Vicar General of the Archdiocese.” He was raised to Coadjutor Archbishop in 1997, then nine months later succeeded Cardinal Quarracino on February 28. 1998, becoming Archbishop, Primate of Argentina and Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who have no Ordinary of their own rite. (MORE NEWS: Experts Sound Alarm Over So-Called ‘Remarkable Religious Transformation’ Amongst One Generation)

When he was created Cardinal in February 2001, he asked the faithful not to come to Rome in celebration, but to spend the money they saved on the poor in their own homes. His sober approach to his calling, along with a strict lifestyle in the spirit of poverty, grew Cardinal Bergoglio’s popularity ever further. He was confirmed twice as the President of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference, despite declining the appointment initially. He also took part in the Conclave in which Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005.

Missionary & Evangelism

“As Archbishop of Buenos Aires — a diocese with more than three million inhabitants — he conceived of a missionary project based on communion and evangelization. He had four main goals: open and brotherly communities, an informed laity playing a lead role, evangelization efforts addressed to every inhabitant of the city, and assistance to the poor and the sick. He aimed to reevangelize Buenos Aires, ‘taking into account those who live there, its structure and its history.’ He asked priests and lay people to work together. In September 2009 he launched the solidarity campaign for the bicentenary of the Independence of the country. Two hundred charitable agencies are to be set up by 2016. And on a continental scale, he expected much from the impact of the message of the Aparecida Conference in 2007, to the point of describing it as the ‘Evangelii Nuntiandi of Latin America.'”

Election And Time As Supreme Pontiff

He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American pope and the first pontiff belonging to the Society of Jesus. He took his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, according to the Christian Post.

The outlet described his behavior as pope as “more inclusive” than others, noting his comments on same-sex marriage and actions in allowing divorced Catholics to remarry and receive sacraments. “In 2023, Francis approved a measure from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to allow Roman Catholic priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples, as long as the blessing is not considered akin to marriage, while still labeling such relationships sinful,” the Christian Post noted.

He was the first pope to address a joint session of U.S. Congress, doing so in 2015 in a 50-minute long speech on major issues impacting the country at the time. This included immigration, stewardship of our planet, the protection of life, and the risks of ideological extremism. (MORE NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Religious And Moral Beliefs’ Of Founding Fathers To Be Taught In State Schools)

“A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms.” – Pope Francis, 2015.

In 2019, after battling through the Catholic Church sex abuse scandals, coverups, and rampant abuses, he created “The Protection of Minors in the Church” summit to create “concrete and effective measures” to combat the crisis. CBN reported that it took over a year for Pope Francis to meet with any of the survivors of the sexual abuse crisis, and his commission “went nowhere.”

He also worked to bring women into the church, bringing them into positions of authority, appointing three female theologians to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2018, another major shift in the culture of the church. In more recent years, he was criticized for his comments on the faith, with some claiming they strayed into universalism. “If you start to fight, ‘my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t,’ where will that lead us?” he asked during a trip to Singapore. “There’s only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and they are different paths [to God].”

At the time, some, such as Bishop Joseph Strickland, called others to “pray for Pope Francis to clearly state that Jesus Christ is the only Way. To deny this is to deny Him. If we deny Christ, He will deny us, He cannot deny Himself.” U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke called the time of Pope Francis’ leadership “like a ship without a rudder.” But not everyone felt similarly about his leadership.

Reactions To The Pope’s Passing

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Million Voices CEO John Graves Statement on Pope Francis

With the passing of Pope Francis, millions of devout Catholics and Christ followers around the world are praying for the selection of the next pope. Pope Francis was incredibly controversial due to his stances that supported liberal positions, which upset traditional Catholics, conservative Catholics, and Catholic theologians.

We should all join in prayer that whoever is selected will adhere to God’s Word and the doctrine of the early Church. There is clearly a resurgence of Christ followers seeking the stability of the early Church fathers.

Pray that the Holy Spirit guides the selection of the next pope, and that his leadership ushers in a renewed focus on God’s Word and a clear exposing of the evil spirits many refer to as the “woke mind virus,” which is destroying marriage, families, children, and nations.

God will build His Church, and we pray that we all stand with God the Father as His Holy Spirit reminds us of the words of Christ.

Shalom, John

Bringing A Biblical Worldview To America

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Being an Action Partner means gaining tools to impact the future for God, engaging with like-minded Christians, and finding encouragement in prayer and fellowship. If you’re interested in joining, register at www.actionpartners.org.

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It seems like every time we at Million Voices speak to lawmakers and their teams, they all tell us the same thing: if just 10 people in their district write letters about issues that matter to them, elected officials know they have a serious crisis on their hands. A thousand people could message that same lawmaker via email or social media, and it would mean nothing. But hand-written, or even printed and signed letters, will make your politicians take action (if they really care about your vote, that is).

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