HONG KONG (SE): On behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and the faithful, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong expresses his deepest condolences on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis who returned to our Lord peacefully on 21 April 2025, the Hong Kong Catholic Social Communications Office said in a press release.
Pope Francis was elected Pope on 13 March 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, at the age of 76, as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis was born in Argentina, he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was appointed Cardinal of Argentina in 2001. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis visited Mongolia in September 2023, his visit has also brought attention to the relations between the Vatican and China. Pope Francis has been committed in promoting inter-religious dialogue and world peace, and he was determined to reform the Holy See, such as the participation of women at the decision-making level. He was respected and loved by the members of the Church during his pontificate.
Pope Francis proclaimed the Bull of Indiction Spes non confundit of the Jubilee Year and opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on 24 December 2024, to symbolize the opening of 2025 Jubilee. He urged the faithful to revive hope among the disappointed during the Jubilee Year, and that everyone would be a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’.
Arrangements on Condolences Service and Memorial Liturgy will be announced.
Pope Francis’ milestones information:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 17-12-1936 | Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| 11-3-1958 | Entered the Society of Jesus |
| 13-12-1969 | Ordained priest |
| 28-2-1998 | Episcopal ordination as Archbishop of Buenos Aires |
| 21-2-2001 | Created a cardinal |
| 13-3-2013 | Elected as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church |
| 19-3-2013 | Initiation of his ministry as Supreme Pontiff |
