SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 483

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to acknowledge with great honor the recent election of Pope Francis I; and

WHEREAS, The new pontiff was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; he is a former cardinal from Argentina and is widely admired as a man of the people; he was elected on March 13, 2013, and is the first pope from Latin America; and

WHEREAS, As a cardinal and as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he worked closely with his parishioners and his clergy; his assumption of the papacy is an affirmation and an acknowledgement of Latin Americans, who claim the largest share of the world's Catholics; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis I specializes in the kind of pastoral work that will serve the greatest needs of today's Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, Known for his character and humility, he is a skilled leader who has modernized the Church in Argentina while embracing traditional values, and his election as pope is truly an auspicious event for the Catholic Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby congratulate the members of the Catholic Church on the election of Pope Francis I; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to commemorate this historic occasion.

Lucio

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 18, 2013.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate