Of Athena Papakosta

Pope Francis died at the age of 88, on Easter Monday, from a stroke and irreversible heart failure, according to a Vatican announcement, which released his will.

“As I feel the twilight of my earthly life approaching, and with a steady hope in eternal life, I want to express my last wishes exclusively in my burial place,” wrote June 29, 2022, Jorge Mario Bergolio – as his real name was – giving him details.

From the first moment he was elected 266th of the Roman Catholic Church and white smoke emerged from the Vatican, on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis began to break the protocols and addressed the crowd to St.

A new era in the History of the Holy See has just begun. In this, the weak, the poor, the oppressed would be a priority.

Pope Francis was the first Pontiff from the southern hemisphere, the first Pope from the American continent, the first Jesuit, the first, who chose the name of St. Francis of Assisi and now becomes the first Pontiff since 1669.

In the text of his covenant he expresses his last desire to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Maria of the Great) in Rome, where he used to pray. The last time she visited her was April 12. A few days ago he had been discharged from Gemelli University Hospital in the Italian capital, where he was hospitalized for weeks with respiratory problems.

As he wrote, in June 2022, he would like to be buried “in the soil”, his tomb being “simple, without special decoration, only carrying the Franciscus inscription”.

The Vatican remains immersed in mourning. His body was placed in the Casa Santa Marta chapel last night and is expected to be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23, to allow the faithful to pay tribute.

This morning the Cardinals Council will decide on the date of the funeral of the deceased Pontiff, which must be held four to six days after the death of the Holy Father of the Catholics.

In the coming weeks, and as long as the Roman Catholic Church will continue to mourn, the process of electing its successor is expected to begin.

The Cardinal Conclave, one of the oldest religious institutions, elects the head of the Roman Catholic Church from the 13th century until today. The word comes from the Latin phrase “cum clave”, which refers to the “key closed” room which is none other than the Sistina hats.

From the day of the Pope’s death, there should be no less than 15 days and more than 20 for the start of Conclavium.

In more than 90 countries there are more than 250 cardinals, but only 135 can elect the next modifice – but those of them are over 80 are excluded. Of the 135, Pope Francis has appointed almost 110, which could mean, although it is not certain, that the next Pope may share his predecessor’s vision of a Catholic Church more inclusive, more open and welcoming to his contemporaries.

Among the dominant successors are Mateo Zoupi, Archbishop of Bologna, Pietro Parolin, who serves as secretary of the Vatican state, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, from the Philippines.

The death of the Pope scattered sadness around the world with Italy Prime Minister George Meloni stressing that “his teaching and his legacy will not be lost”. For his part, paying tribute to French President Emmanuel Macron, stressed that Pope Francis “stood by the weakest and the most vulnerable”, while last night the United States president announced that he would go to the Italian capital.

Pope Francis’ last message was a message dedicated to peace and as one last wish he wrote in his will “the pain that characterized the last part of my life I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and the brotherhood between the peoples”.