Father Cristino Bouvette reflects on passing of Pope Francis

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In the wake of the passing of Pope Francis, Father Cristino Bouvette shared his thoughts and the sentiments of the church regarding the Pope’s passing.

Pope Francis is reported to have died due to a stroke, and cardiovascular arrest, which was indicated in the death certificate released by the Vatican.

“For a couple of weeks (he) was on death watch there because his condition was so frail, but then it seemed even on Sunday (April 20) that he was doing better and was well enough to even come out to St. Peter Square and greet 50,000 people,” said Bouvette of the Sacred Heart Parish. “We will be having some different types of prayer and celebration … and we have set up a little memorial for him in the parish for people to come and pay a visit and light a candle.”

In 2022, the bishops of Canada invited Pope Francis to Canada for the sake of participating in events meant to foster healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples surrounding the experiences of the residential school system.

His attendance in Canada was to be a show of remorse and as a gesture of respect to demonstrate the church’s closeness to those who have suffered as a consequence of the school system. 

Among the Vatican’s protocols for the pope to visit another country, is to have a local priest designated to oversee the organization and preparation of the liturgies and rituals that the pope will participate in.

Bouvette was asked by the bishops of Canada to assume that responsibility, and he became the National Liturgical Coordinator for the papal visit to Canada during that time.

“It was very stressful. We only had about five months to pull everything together once it was confirmed that he was coming, but even then, his condition was already rather frail and we noticed that he was cancelling some others of his trips,” said Bouvette. “We wondered if he might cancel the one to come to Canada as well, but he did not and it demonstrated his highly prioritizing the purpose of that visit.”

Despite being a part of the papal entourage and traveling with the pope for the five days he was in Canada, Bouvette’s interactions with him were limited, as he was often instead behind the scenes, choreographing events.

Beginning on April 28, parishes throughout the world were to offer a set of nine masses over nine consecutive days for the pope, the forgiveness of his sins, and the eternal rest of his soul. Pope Francis’ funeral was held April 26.

“The whole idea is that the world gathers together around the death of a pope and we pray for him, and so we will do our little part in Strathmore as well,” said Bouvette. “Then within five to 10 days of the funeral mass, there will be convened what is known as the conclave where all of the cardinals of the church … will meet in a series of secret conversations that are confidential and then they will go into a chapel in the Vatican where they will participate in a series of elections until a two thirds majority has been reached.”

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