WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HJR 689

Memorials, Death - Pope Francis -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Gino Bulso

Tennessee memorializes Pope Francis with a ceremonial resolution honoring his life, mercy, and service to the vulnerable; a symbolic act, not new law or spending.

Signed by Governor.
#death #memorials
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HJR 689

Summary: House Joint Resolution 689 (HJR 689) – Memorializing Pope Francis

Overview and Purpose

HJR 689 is a ceremonial joint resolution adopted by the Tennessee General Assembly to honor and memorialize Pope Francis following his death on April 21, 2025. The resolution expresses the General Assembly’s respect for his life of service, humility, and advocacy for the poor and marginalized, and it invites the presentation of an official copy.

Key Provisions

  • The resolution recognizes Pope Francis’s life and papacy, noting:
    • Birth name: Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Buenos Aires, Argentina; born December 17, 1936)
    • Path to priesthood and leadership: Jesuit priest (ordained 1969), auxiliary bishop (1992), archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998), cardinal (2001)
    • Papacy: Elected pope on March 13, 2013; first pope from Latin America
    • Focus areas: Mercy, care for creation, attention to the least among us, and outreach to those on the peripheries of church and society
    • Canonizations: 942 saints (the most among recent popes)
    • Writings: Four encyclicals (Lumen Fidei, Laudato Si, Fratelli Tutti, Dilexit Nos), seven apostolic exhortations, and 75 motu proprio documents
  • The resolution states, in substance, that the General Assembly honors the memory and legacy of Pope Francis and reflects fondly on his holiness and service to those in need.
  • Administrative closing provisions:
    • An appropriate copy of the resolution shall be prepared for presentation
    • The final language after the State seal should appear without House or Senate designation when copied for presentation

Who Is Affected

  • Primarily the Tennessee General Assembly and the state’s ceremonial commemorations.
  • The broader public may be affected in terms of a formal expression of respect and a reflection on values such as charity, mercy, and social inclusion.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: April 21, 2025
  • Sponsor: Rep. Bulso
  • Legislative actions culminated in: Passed by both chambers in late April 2025
  • Transmitted to Governor: April 29, 2025
  • Signed by Governor: May 7, 2025
  • Status: Signed into law (as a memorial joint resolution)

Impact

  • This is a ceremonial, symbolic act; it does not create new law, authorize spending, or alter policy. Its purpose is to commemorate Pope Francis’s life and contributions and to acknowledge his global influence on issues of peace, mercy, and concern for the vulnerable.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.