” TIRELESS ADVOCATE”
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 to European immigrants from Argentina, Pope Francis was the first Latin American president of the Roman Catholic Church. He became its nose in March 2013.
He died on Monday night at his home in the Vatican’s Santa Marta hotel, where he had been recovering after being hospitalised for five months with lethal asthma.
Pope Francis ‘ visit to Singapore was the first catholic visit to the state in 38 years.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who served as the priest’s Minister in Attendance therefore, said he was “overwhelmed with a deep sadness ” after hearing of his death.
Describing the pontiff’s funny sense of humour and likeable nature, Mr Tong recounted how the bishop had joked with him during the silent moments of the visit.
“ He was entirely brutalizing, and made me feel at ease in his appearance, and by doing so, he showed that whilst he was the bishop, he was still also very much one of us, ” he said.