Gathered in their 126th plenary assembly, the bishops of Argentina sang songs and shared a moment of prayer for the eternal rest of Pope Francis, also expressing his gratitude to the Virgin of Luján for her life and delivery illuminated by the Gospel.
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Through a Shared video on social networks From the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) all the Argentine bishops gathered are observed, at night, around an image of the Virgin of Luján singing the song “The Virgin Mary gathers us”.
Then, Mons. Raúl Pizarro, general secretary of the CEA, directed a few words loaded with thanks: “Brothers, we are gathered at the feet of the Virgin of Luján to pray with a heart grateful for our beloved Pope Francis and to make together a retirement gesture of pilgrimage.”
The also auxiliary bishop of San Isidro recalled the moment when the Holy Father left for the father’s house on April 21, Easter Monday: “Hope does not disappoint, and providentially, the Lord wanted to take Francisco on Easter Monday.”
“Let’s pray together so that whoever celebrated the Sacraments of the Lord so many times, which gives us new life, receives the grace now to fully celebrate the Pascual Mystery,” he concluded by inviting prayer.
Subsequently, Mons. César Daniel Fernández, Bishop of Jujuy, raised a plea for the soul of Pope Francis, asking God to grant him the eternal rest.
In an atmosphere of deep prayer, he said: “Let’s invoke the Father of Mercy, asking for the eternal rest of Pope Francis. He was anointed to be a prophet in the name of Jesus and pastor according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
The bishop also highlighted the dedication of the Holy Father throughout his pontificate and asked that all the good that he sowed in the Church and in the world “multiplies in grace, in favor of the Christians themselves as the Church entrusted him to shepherd.”
At the end, Mons. Fernández directed a series of invocations to the Virgin of Luján, in which he expressed thanks for Francisco’s pontificate. To each of them, the prelates responded: “With María de Luján we thank you, Lord”. In the pleas, its impulse to a poor church for the poor, their closeness with the most needy, their emphasis on mercy and their call to a missionary church at exit was highlighted.
The ceremony concluded with a call to hope and prayer in communion with Mary, mother of the Church. Mons. Raúl Pizarro recalled that the Virgin “accompanied the apostles in the waiting of the Holy Spirit” and that she was also present in the life and ministry of Pope Francis, whom he constantly resorted “by undertaking some important task and when she began her apostolic trips.”
“Let’s pray for Mary to take him by the hand and take him to the meeting of her son Jesus,” said the bishop.
In an atmosphere of recollection, he encouraged his brothers in the Episcopate to arrange for the action of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the Plenary Assembly, and also asked for the cardinals who prepare to choose the new successor of Peter: “We ask her to accompany us, as in the Cenacle, so that the Lord sends the parraclite over us.”
Then, the bishops silently began a pilgrimage to the temple, walking slowly, praying a dozen of the rosary and singing a Marian song.
President of the CEA thanks for Francisco’s life
At the opening mass of the 126th Plenary Assembly of Bishops, the President of the CEA, Mons. Marcelo Colombo, also remembered Pope Francis And he expressed his gratitude to God “for the abundant fertility of his pastoral surrender and for his legacy of gestures and words, which will continue to guide us in service to our particular churches.”
In addition, Mons. Colombo highlighted how Francisco, like Jesus, received “all those who sought with different motivations, needs and intentions, while talking to them strongly in the name of God.”
“We keep in our hearts his testimony of meeting everyone: his visits to the true peripheries of the world, almost always alien to the priorities of the powerful; those deep dialogues with leaders and believers of other Christian confessions and religions, in the sincere search for reciprocal knowledge and a synergy for peace,” he added.
Diego López Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I work as a digital journalist. I started my career in the newspaper El Comercio in Peru. In 2016, I began as editor in ACI Press and I perform as a web editor since 2018. From 2024, I write the Newsletter for Social Media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.