In memory of Pope Francis.

89(R) SR 463 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 463

In Memory

of

Pope Francis

WHEREAS, People the world over are mourning the loss of

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88,

shortly after offering his Easter Sunday blessing to the faithful

gathered in the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square; and

WHEREAS, Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires,

Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis was the son of

Mario and Regina Bergoglio, and he was deeply influenced by his

grandmother, Rosa Bergoglio, who had been active in the Catholic

Action movement in Italy before the family emigrated to

Argentina; at age 12, he entered a school run by Salesian

priests, who instilled in him a sense of duty to the poor, and he

accepted his calling at the age of 16; he was ordained as a Jesuit

priest in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis was appointed to lead the Jesuit

order in Argentina in 1973; during the "Dirty War" that took

place during the rule of the country's repressive military junta,

he quietly worked to save the lives of many people; he went on to

serve in Germany and then in the Argentine city of Córdoba; in

1992, he was named auxiliary bishop of the Buenos Aires diocese,

and six years later, he became archbishop; during his time in

that role, he helped relieve the suffering caused by Argentina's

economic crisis, organizing food kitchens, tripling the number

of priests assigned to the slums, and building schools and drug

rehabilitation centers; and

WHEREAS, Named a cardinal in 2001, he became a leading

voice in the church; by the time Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in

2013, Pope Francis was preparing for retirement; instead, he was

elected pope, becoming the first Jesuit and the first member of

the church from Latin America to serve as pontiff; he was also the

first to choose the name Francis, and like St. Francis of Assisi,

he embraced a humble life of service to the most vulnerable;

demonstrating good humor and an avuncular charm that belied his

steely determination, he became a global voice for justice and

compassion; he took more than 40 trips abroad, many to places

long overlooked, in order to meet with his flock and build

interfaith bridges; at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he

offered hope and consolation via regular video livestreams; he

involved Catholics worldwide in a process of renewal, engaging

the laity, welcoming a variety of opinions, and choosing many

cardinals from Latin America, Asia, and Africa; even as he grew

frail and battled ill health, he continued to travel widely,

especially striving to bring peace to war-torn regions; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis was a transformative figure, and he

will remain a tremendous source of inspiration, not only to his

fellow Catholics, but to countless people who have been heartened

by his message of enduring mercy and love; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature

hereby pay tribute to the life of Pope Francis and extend deepest

condolences to all who mourn his passing.

Bettencourt

Alvarado

Hall

Middleton

Birdwell

Hancock

Miles

Blanco

Hinojosa of Hidalgo

Nichols

Campbell

Hinojosa of Nueces

Parker

Cook

Huffman

Paxton

Creighton

Hughes

Perry

Eckhardt

Johnson

Schwertner

Flores

King

Sparks

Gutierrez

Kolkhorst

West

Hagenbuch

Menéndez

Zaffirini

Patrick, President of the Senate

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the

above Resolution was adopted by

the Senate on April 30, 2025, by a

rising vote.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate