Francis's Legacy of Peace Unanimously Lamented by AR in Vote of Regret
In a solemn gathering, Portugal's Assembly of the Republic paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 following a long battle with respiratory and cardiac diseases. The vote of condolence, led by President of the Assembly, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, was attended by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and other dignitaries.
The session, a poignant moment in history, also acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the elections for the Constituent Assembly – the first free elections after the April 1974 revolution.
Pope Francis, hailing from Buenos Aires, served as the Pope for 12 years, leaving an indelible mark on the Church and the world. His pontificate was a decisive call for fraternity, mercy, and peace. He authored social and ecological encyclicals that placed any critique of technology, our relationship with the natural world, social anomie, and the economic system at the forefront of global discourse.
The Pope's appreciation for local cultures in the face of globalization was commended. He spearheaded initiatives such as the World Meeting of Popular Movements, Scholas Occurrentes, and the Economy of Francis, encouraging exploration of new paths of human coexistence. He tirelessly advocated for the impoverished, both with words and actions.
From a social perspective, Pope Francis' pontificate was highlighted by his visits to prisons, hospitals, refugee camps, and deprived neighborhoods, as well as his proclamation of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015. He also established a prominent role in ecumenical activities, signing a significant interreligious document on human fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and visiting all inhabited continents, focusing on the peripheries and expanding the Church's voice.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis crossed the Square of St. Peter empty-handed to declare that no one is saved alone, simultaneously embodying compassion and leading by example. He was a close friend of Portugal, creating four Portuguese cardinals – a historic number – and visiting the country twice.
The Assembly of the Republic expressed profound sorrow upon learning of Pope Francis' passing and extended condolences to the Catholic faithful who mourn their shepherd. They acknowledged that the Pope's legacy, extending beyond the boundaries of the Church, will continue to be meaningful and relevant, particularly in the current global context.
Pope Francis' pontificate was significant for its emphasis on mercy, reform, inclusivity, and global advocacy. His efforts to reinforce Church reform, synodality, and environmental and ethical teachings reshaped the Catholic Church's internal culture and external engagement with pressing global issues. Politically, he advocated tirelessly for peace, human rights, and environmental care, serving as a global moral voice.
- Portugal's Assembly of the Republic also recognized the 50th anniversary of the elections for the Constituent Assembly, coinciding with the integral part that Pope Francis played in shaping general-news conversations through his social and ecological encyclicals.
- In light of the 50th anniversary and the passing of Pope Francis, the political landscape, with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Luís Montenegro, and other dignitaries in attendance, showcased the impact of such encyclicals on various aspects of society, from politics to local cultures.
- As they paid tribute to Pope Francis, the members of the Assembly of the Republic acknowledged how the Pope's pontificate, with its focus on fraternity, mercy, and peace, left an enduring mark on the world, much like encyclicals like those he authored.
- Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the Assembly of the Republic, acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly elections, expressed that Pope Francis' legacy, which extended beyond the Catholic Church, resonated powerfully in the current context, parallel to the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.
