Death of a saintly man: Sacred Heart Church, Sai Kung waits for guidelines on honouring Pope Francis

_{The late Pope in 2014}

Following the death of His Holiness Pope Francis — to give him his full title — SAI KUNG BUZZ asked Rev. Raja Duggimpudi of Sacred Heart Church what arrangements will be made to honour the late pontiff. “We have to wait for guidelines from our superiors in the diocese, the Bishop. He will also be waiting to hear from the Vatican about the funeral for the Pope.”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City for 12 years. He was the first Jesuit Pope and first from the Americas and the southern hemisphere. Francis was a humble man who declined to live in the palatial papal quarters in the Vatican and instead resided in a modest guest house.

Francis spoke often of the need for Christian humility and kindness. “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just. Kindness is firm and persevering intention to always will the good of others, even the unfriendly. Let us care for one another and let us be loving custodians of creation. We will never be disillusioned or lose our way if we are guided by God.”

The Pope deplored environmental destruction. “We must not be indifferent or resigned to the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of ecosystems, often caused by our irresponsible behaviour.”

On hope: “. . . God is the light that illuminates the darkness, even if it does not dissolve it, and a spark of divine light is within each of us.”

_{Sacred Heart Church, Sai Kung is waiting for guidelines on commemoration services}

On refugees: “It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of help.”

The good Pope was open-minded on LGBT issues: “Who am I to judge?”

Born in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits after recovering from a serious illness. He was ordained as a priest in 1969. From 1973 to 1979 he was the superior Jesuit in Argentina. In 1998 be was Archbishop of Buenos Aires and in 2001 Pope John Paul XVI made him a Cardinal. After Pope Benedict resigned in 2013 a papal enclave named Bergoglio as his successor. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, who led a life of poverty, became a beggar and an itinerant preacher.

RIP Pope Francis. You don’t have to be Catholic to mourn a saintly man.