The banks and corridors of the Cathedral of Sé, in the center of São Paulo, were crowded early Monday afternoon (21) to accompany the Mass in honor of Pope Francis, who died in the morning. The Mass, which began at 12h, was celebrated by Cardinal Dom Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo.
At the altar, next to many flowers, was a photo of the Pope. “Today we were surprised by the news of Pope Francis’ death. Pope Francis, if I could say, chose a fine day to die: a Monday from Easter, to say that death is redeemed by life and resurrection,” the cardinal told the faithful when he begins the celebration.
Archbishop Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo, presides on Mass Tribute to Pope Francis in the Cathedral of the Sé – Photo: Paulo Pinto/Agência Brasil
During the homily, the cardinal praised the life of Francis and his mission to the Catholic Church. “Pope Francis has left an important mark in the life of the Church and humanity. Naturally, these days will make many analyzes about Pope Francis’ life and pontificate. But one thing is certain: first, he was a very human person. And so it was until the end. He never hid his human condition, even in his fragility. He did not hide his wheelchair condition when he could no longer hide his or her in pain, when he already had very strong media, when he already had very strong medication when he already took the pain that he already took the pain He suffered and his arthrosis. And even in the hospital, during the weeks of hospitalization, he asked not to hide his condition as a sick, ”said the cardinal.
For Dom Odilo, the Pope leaves a great example of life for humanity.
“From the poor, the elderly, the unwanted children, through unwanted migrants, the refugees, those who economically do not count, and those who, ideologically or religiously, think or do different from us, Pope Francis has made very strong: we cannot rule out the human person. All are always children of God and the more it suffers or the more fragile. of fragility, not only of strength or efficiency.
Dom Odilo’s speech was accompanied by a multitude present in the Cathedral of the See to honor the Pope. Among these faithful was Elza Rosa, 74 years old. Standing, waiting for the beginning of the mass, she told the report that the Pope “was an excellent person.”
“It hurts a lot. We love him so much. He was a holy and very dear person. He was very good for us, Brazil and the world,” he said.
Mass in honor of Pope Francis in the Cathedral of the Sé – Photo: Paulo Pinto/Agência Brasil
Also standing, near the altar, was Milton Moreira, 80, who highlighted the humility of the Pope. “He was so humble that he was always with the most needy. He gave his life for unity and peace in the world. It is a very infinite greatness.”
“Pope Francis had no prejudice with anything,” said optical consultant Dina Cavallari, 60.
“From the humblest person, regardless of belief or sexuality, he always had a very open mind. He liked him because he supported all classes. The crowded church today gives a very affection and a great loss to us,” said Dina Cavallari.
For the consultant, the new Pope, who will be chosen in Conclave, must “have a more current thinking to follow up on what is happening in the world today and be an updated Pope with the situation in which the world finds itself.”
Collective
Shortly before celebrating the Mass in the See, Cardinal Dom Odilo Scherer talked to journalists and spoke about the importance of Pope Francis for the Catholic Church. “We have much to thank God for the life of Pope Francis who was chosen as pontiff in Conclave 2013 and made a great contribution to the church to take steps on the line of the practice of the Second Vatican Council,” he said. “One of the highlights of this pontificate was the continuity of the implementation of the Second Vatican Council regarding the Church itself, to make the church really more missionary, not inward or just taking care of itself, but a church for the world.”
Dom Odilo Scherer highlights Pope Francis Legacy – Photo: Paulo Pinto/Agência Brasil
Another aspect he cited as important of this pontificate was to “courage to take new, drastic measures and make new legislation to correct an existing moral wound among members of the clergy.”
These wounds, then explained the cardinal, refer to allegations of abuse and pedophilia within the Catholic Church. “Pope Benedict XVI has already taken these issues very seriously, for example, of moral corruption, pedophilia and sexual abuse within the clergy. Pope Francis continued on it and made legislation to clearly clean these situations that naturally reach a very small percentage in the clergy. But all the clergy lead to fame,” he said.
“Pope Francis, precisely, put his hand on this wound and, fortunately, also with a lot of firmness and success. But that does not mean that this is resolved because this is a human condition that can always come back. Therefore requires both care with the choice of candidates and care in training so that the priests do not fall into this situation, do not fall into this temptation,” he added.
According to him, Pope Francis will also be remembered for leaving as legacy the choice for cardinals from outside the European axis. “The Pope has chosen many cardinals from more peripheral regions of the Church, even in countries where the presence of the church is minimal to give occasion to listen and to participate,” he said. “Pope Francis worried about the peripheries of the world. The social, geographical and even economic peripheries and also within the church,” he added.
