Ministerial statement
The passing of His Holiness Pope Francis
When Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope, he took his papal name from St Francis of Assisi – as a model of humility, simplicity and love for the poor.
That is how Jorge Bergoglio lived his life – and that his how Pope Francis led the Catholic Church for over a decade.
To the end, Francis was a pope of the people.
As an Archbishop, he would catch the bus around Buenos Aires. And as Pope, he said no to the official limousine, and instead travelled across Rome in a blue Ford Focus.
Pope Francis understood that grace lives within every human being, whether they were born rich or poor, high or low.
Through the strength of his example and the quiet passion of his words, he showed us the power of the great Catholic teachings.