KUCHING: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) today joined Catholics and Christians worldwide in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
PBDS information chief Andrew Bugie said the party and its members extend their deepest condolences to all Roman Catholics and the wider Christian community in Sarawak.
“Pope Francis taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in service of the poorest and most marginalised,” Andrew said, commenting on the passing of the pontiff.
He said the late Pope’s life was entirely devoted to the service of the Lord and the Catholic Church.
Andrew also noted the unique legacy of Pope Francis, highlighting that he was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order), the first Latin American, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since Syrian-born Gregory III in the 8th century.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec 17, 1936, served as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State from 2013 until his death.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a family of Italian descent, Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness.
He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and served as Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979.
He became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was appointed cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on Feb 28, 2013, Bergoglio was elected as his successor during a papal conclave on March 13, 2013.
He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
