Pope Francis laid to rest at Vatican funeral

 Pope Francis has been laid to rest after a solemn ceremony in Rome. The funeral and procession were attended by more than 250,000 people. Many high-ranking church officials, royalty, heads of state, and foreign dignitaries paid their respects to the pontiff in the magnificent 16th-century St Peter's Basilica. The Vatican News website called the ceremony "moving, intense, and heartfelt". Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, aged 88, after serving as head of the Catholic Church for 12 years. Francis was the first Pope from South America. A Catholic Church cardinal said the outpouring of affection in the Vatican streets "tells us how much Pope Francis touched minds and hearts".

Pope Francis was a hugely popular pontiff. He was seen as a man who did his utmost to bring people together. Cardinal Re told mourners that the late Pope had a deep commitment to the plight of migrants and to world peace. Cardinal Re said Francis had constantly urged people to "build bridges, not walls". Francis was always outspoken in his criticism of war. He continually urged leaders to end conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar. Francis will also be remembered for his calls for greater inclusivity. He gave his conditional blessing of same-sex couples. He also recognized transgender and LGBTQ+ issues, even though this brought criticism from conservatives.

1. What are 4 very unique things about Vatican City?

2. RELIGIONS: What do you know about these religions?   

	What I Know	What are the practioners called , what country did it originate, what are the leaders called, what are their core beliefs, etc...
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism
Scientology
Judaism
Hinduism

 

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	laid to rest	a.	Kings, queens, princes, and princesses.
2.	solemn	b.	Very beautiful or very good.
3.	royalty	c.	When a person who has died is buried in the ground.
4.	dignitaries	d.	Very serious and quiet.
5.	paid their respects	e.	Important people, like leaders or officials.
6.	magnificent	f.	Showed they cared about or said goodbye to someone who died.
7.	outpouring	g.	A lot of feelings shown at once.

    Paragraph 2

8.	pontiff	h.	A very bad or difficult situation.
9.	utmost	i.	Another word for the Pope (the head of the Catholic Church).
10.	mourners	j.	When you promise to do something and work hard at it.
11.	commitment	k.	Not afraid to say what you think, especially if it is shocking or controversial.
12.	plight	l.	The best or most you can do.
13.	outspoken	m.	When everyone is welcome and included.
14.	inclusivity	n.	People who are very sad because someone has died

 

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. laid to rest
2. solemn
3. dignitaries
4. moving
5. affection
6. utmost
7. the late
8. plight
9. blessing
10. criticism

1. deceased
2. VIPs
3. love
4. disapproval
5. sad
6. difficult condition
7. buried
8. support
9. touching
10. best

 5.  Role Play A : From the following things that Pope Frances achieved, which one do you think is his greatest contribution and why:

Role A: Became a global religious leader in the fight against climate change.

Role B: Spoke out about poverty, inequality, and the need for a “poor Church for the poor.”. Visited slums, refugee camps, and prisons to show solidarity.

Role C: Promoted Interfaith Dialogue : Met with leaders of Islam, Judaism, and other Christian denominations.

Role D: Changed Tone Toward LGBTQ+ People

• Famously said, “Who am I to judge?” regarding gay priests.
• Supported civil unions for same-sex couples (outside of sacramental marriage).

Role E: Increased Role of Women

• Appointed women to top Vatican positions previously held only by men and advocated for greater female participation in Church life

Role F: Responded to Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis

• Met with abuse survivors and created new legal frameworks for handling abuse.

 

6. Choose one of these top 10 Sights in Italy and discuss why it is your favourite from the list 

1. Colosseum (Rome)
   The ancient Roman amphitheater and one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Roman Empire.

2. Vatican City (Rome)
   Home to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums, housing works by Michelangelo and Raphael.

3. Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa)
   A world-famous architectural mistake—this iconic bell tower is known for its unintended tilt.

4. Florence Cathedral (Florence)
   Also known as the Duomo, its massive dome was engineered by Brunelleschi and remains a symbol of the Renaissance.

5. Venice Canals (Venice)
   Romantic gondola rides and scenic waterways lined with historic buildings make Venice unforgettable.

6. Pompeii Ruins (Near Naples)
   The preserved ruins of a Roman city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

7. Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy)
   A stunning coastline known for colorful villages like Positano, dramatic cliffs, and crystal-clear waters.

8. Cinque Terre (Liguria)
   A series of five colorful cliffside villages with hiking trails, seafood, and picturesque views of the Ligurian Sea.

9. Milan Cathedral (Milan)
   A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, with intricate spires and rooftop views over the city.

10. Lake Como (Northern Italy)
    A glamorous alpine lake surrounded by mountains, charming towns, and elegant villas.

7.Role play B: Most Inspirational Argentinians: Here is a list of the most inspirational Argentinians, according to a google search. Choose one and explain why they are on this list.  Do you think Francis deserves to be on this list? Why or why not?

Role  A – Eva Peron

Role  B – Lionel Messi

Role  C – Ernesto Che Guevara

Role  D – Diego Maradona Role E -  Jorge Mario Bergoglio

 add

8.Discussion - Pope Francis

1. What do you know about Pope Francis?
2. Who is the world's greatest religious leader?
3. How important are religious leaders?
4. What good did Pope Francis do for the world?
5. What do you know about the Catholic Church?
6. Why do people stick to one religion?
7. How religious are you?
8. Who has touched your heart and mind?
9. What role has the Catholic Church played in your country ?
10. What are some short comings that you wish the Pope had put more time on to improve?

11. Who in the world can bring people together?
12. How can the world help migrants?
13. What can we do to achieve peace in the world?
14. Where should the next Pope come from?
15. How can we create more inclusivity in the world?
16. What LGBTQ+ issues need to be addressed?
17. What questions would you like to ask an expert on Pope Francis?
18. If you were elected Pope, and you had absolute power, what kind of changes would you make ?

9. Questions: Fill in the blanks:

1. As the pope is now dead, what word can you use before his name to let people know that he is dead? Example: The                   Pope Francis died last week.

2.What is a phrasal verb that means someone has died ?

3. If one day the pope decides to quit being the pope, then the pope                             .

4.                                         is a formal title of respect used when referring to individuals in positions of high authority, such as ambassadors, governors, heads of state or the president. However, for royalty we use                                     .

For religious leaders like the Pope or the Dalai Lama, we use                                     .

5. If you do not believe in a god, you are an                   .

6. If you believe in a god, you are a                   .

7. If you believe in many gods, you are a                   .

8. If you are not sure if you believe in god or not, then you are an                   .

9. Ritzenger was the Pope before Frances, he is his                    .

10. Chistianity, Islam and Hinduism are the top 3 religions in the world, in that order. Since Islam is number 2 on the list , it is the                      .