Belize Declares Period of Mourning for Late Pope

Today, the Government of Belize declared a period of mourning for the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. In statements issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Governor General, Belize extended its heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community worldwide. The statement further announced that in honor of his memory, all national flags are to be flown at half-mast from midday on Thursday until the conclusion of his committal service. In an official statement, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy as a voice for peace and justice. We spoke with Father Scott Giuliani, a priest at the Divine Mercy Church in Belize City, for more details on the legacy he is leaving behind.

 

Father Scott Giuliani, Priest, Divine Mercy Church

“It’s not by chance  by chance that his last blessing that he gave to the world was a time on the greatest feast that we have of the year where we celebrate Jesus resurrection, that over sin and suffering and death, we had the victory in Christ and the resurrection. And at this time, this beginning of the celebration of Easter, it’s in this season that Pope Francis, after a time of suffering during Lent, he’s called to go home at that time in his last public appearance, was wishing everyone a happy Easter and giving that blessing to his people. And so I think that for us is, it’s a great reminder of where we’re going. We’re celebrating Jubilee year this year as well. And we’re called to be pilgrims of hope. And so Pope Francis really reminds us of what a pilgrim of hope means as he lives his life as a pilgrim. And now we, he hopes to be fulfilled and be in that peace, place of peace in heaven. Pope Francis,  you love him or you hate him. He was a figure that really touched people’s hearts and he. From the very beginning, after he was elected, usually the Pope goes off and he would take a ride back in, in a different special car. Like he jumped on the bus with all his brother Cardinals. And he just would do these sort of things where he would try to build these bridges beyond these kind of social barriers that we have. And he, by choosing the word Francis, after this St. Francis Assisi, this kind of guided his pontificate. Where Pope St. Francis, he was in a time of conflict and battle in the war. Also Pope Francis in time with Ukraine and Gaza and Sudan and these different conflicts around the world, he preached peace. He was a man of creation, speaking about the responsibility for our common home. So what, speaking about integral ecology says whether the care for the environment can’t be separated from the care for the dignity of the human person, especially those most vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, to both poor and rich. He was a man of great dialogue. He was always breaking social barriers in a lot of ways. And so he’d reach out to people who have different faiths, different creeds, and he’d come together in a fraternity. Give us an example of how we meet with people who perhaps not share the same ideas as we do, but we meet in peace and mutual respect. And he gives a great example of that way.”