Catholic Church in Venezuela dismissed Pope Francis with an exequial mass

The Catholic Church in Venezuela dismissed Pope Francis, with a misery mass held at the Teresa Carreño Theater, this Saturday, April 26, and chaired by the Apostolic Nuncio, Mons. Alberto Ortega Martín and the Archbishop of Caracas, Mons. Raúl Biord.

Mons. Ortega, in his homily, said he celebrated the Eucharist “with a pain in the heart, but at the same time with faith and hope.” For the Apostolic Nuncio, the funeral of the Holy Father in the Plaza de San Pedro was “moving” and assured that the mass demonstrations of affection were sign “that Pope Francis was very dear and that he has had a very relevant role, not only for the church, but for everyone.”

“The news of his death, on Easter Monday, has caught us in surprise,” said Mons. Ortega. “We thank God for the gift of his life, 88 years, and for the 12 years of his pontificate, who will undoubtedly leave a deep mark on the life of the Church,” he added.

“We could say, without fear of being wrong, that Pope Francis has also been the Pope of mercy (…) He has been a man of deep and sincere humility, ”said the apostolic nuncio from one of the most important theaters in the Venezuelan capital.

Among the audience gathered to celebrate the Mass, there were faithful of various Caracas parishes, state authorities and diplomatic delegations, in addition to some members of the city clergy. The liturgy was animated by the Symphony Orchestra and the Simón Bolívar National Choir.

“A father and a shepherd for ‘All, all, allas he used to repeat, with special attention to the most needy, to the poor, to the migrants, to whom the world considers the latter, ”said Mons. Ortega, while reviewing Pope Francis’s pontificate, especially highlighting each of his apostolic trips.

In addition, the Appetolic Nuncio remarked “the joy” to which the Holy Father invited continuously, a call that was embodied in his encyclical Gospel of joy. “Today we want to host the invitation that the Pope has repeated us many times: to go to Jesus, to let us play for Him,” he added.

“These words express what he has lived, what has also testified. And we ask for Him, which definitely experiences Christ’s victory, living with him in joy forever,” said Mons. Ortega, entrusting the soul of Pope Francis to the love protection of the Blessed Virgin, “whom he has loved so much.”

Cardinal Baltazar Porras remembers the friendship that united Pope Francis

Through A message posted in XCardinal Baltazar Porras, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, said that the friendship that united to the Holy Father was “the best gift” that God granted him “for several decades.” The purple recalled several moments that joined the Pope, first as shepherds of the Church in Latin America and then from Rome.

“Wanting a holy and immaculate church demanded the courage of the tasks undertaken, which did not please everyone, but called for the conversion of the heart,” the cardinal wrote this Saturday. “He was a true prophet, misunderstood by some but followed by many more,” he added.

“As a believer, I thank God for having enjoyed his friendship, his advice, of his reception that was always permanent without his fumes uploading,” said Cardinal Porras.