It's been 12 years since this moment… The day the world met its first Latin American pope.
It is an anniversary that Pope Francis spent in the hospital for the first time. But one that, from Rome, has been celebrated; of course, in a different way and, above all, with prayers for his health. For example, it was celebrated with a Mass at the University of the Holy Cross.
FERNANDO PUIG
Professor Santa Croce
This year's circumstances are a bit special, but even so, in addition to praying for him and asking for his health and speedy recovery, we wanted a Mass, a celebration, to also be a way of thanking him for everything he has done and is doing for the Church.
These twelve years have been a great time: from prison visits, being the first Pope to wash the feet of women, to his gestures toward the poorest, with meals for them in the Vatican, to making mercy, which has been one of the symbols of his pontificate, the motto of the Jubilee.
I think mercy is a key theme of his pontificate. The theme of mercy, charity, being very present, very close to people, and, above all, this aspect of not discarding people, the value of the person in themselves.
He is a Pope who has not hesitated to speak out against conflict. It has been the message the Pope has conveyed in every one of his public events. Words that have not remained empty words. Pope Francis has demonstrated this with his actions.
The situation in the war in Ukraine is very close to home, and he's very interested in that topic. We feel close to him; he has a big heart, always thinking of the least of these, the poor… I love that he calls Gaza every night; he cares about his Christians in Gaza, and I like that a lot. Pope Francis has a big heart.
And for the excitement on this day, there's that of his fellow countrymen, the Argentinians. It's inevitable for them to remember the exact moment they saw one of their own become pope.
As a practicing Christian, it was a great satisfaction, and the truth is that many Argentinians felt very proud, and the Pope is Argentinian. It was truly a celebration.
We were in Argentina following him minute by minute to see what was happening, and it was very exciting because we truly never thought a pope would be Argentinian.
And from the memory of the faithful, to that of the Curia. Those who work hand in hand with him also did not forget to send him a message of affection on his anniversary.
ROBERTO PASOLINI
Preacher of the Papal Household
That 12, as we said, is a round number of plenitude, and we can truly thank God because Pope Francis's gift to the Church and the world is fulfilled. It is undoubtedly a way of fully expressing ourselves in this twelfth year.
It is a day that will always be remembered in Rome. In fact, the faithful hope that he recovers so he can celebrate his next anniversary in a different way.
CA / BAM
TR: GS
