The Senate commemorated Pope Francis during the plenary meeting on Tuesday, May 13, who passed away on Monday, April 21. After a speech by the President of the Senate, the senators observed a minute of silence in the presence of the Chargé dAffaires of the Holy See in the Netherlands, Monsignor Limchua, and State Secretary Nobel of Participation and Integration, who was present on behalf of the government for the commemoration.
Head of State
In addition to being the religious leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis was the head of state of Vatican City. In his speech in the Senate, President Jan Anthonie Bruijn stated that Pope Francis, as head of state, was the face of Vatican City in the world. Unlike other world leaders, he had no weapons or sanctions at his disposal. But he had the power of the gentle hand. With words and compassion, he reached billions of people, Bruijn said.
Pope of Firsts
Francis was a pope of firsts: the first Latin American pope, the first to choose the name Francis, and the first Jesuit to be elected pope. Bruijn: While he was himself the first in many respects, in his pontificate he chose the adage of Jesus: many firsts will be last, and many last will be first.
President Bruijn said that the pope did this by continuously giving attention to the vulnerable, such as the homeless, prisoners, and migrants. In speeches, Francis often criticized inequality in the world, called attention to conflicts between and within countries, and urged for a climate breakthrough.