As the global Catholic Church mourns the passing of Pope Francis, Archbishop William E. Lori is calling on the faithful across the Archdiocese of Baltimore to come together in prayer and remembrance.
A special Mass remembering the late pontiff will be held April 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. Pope Francis died earlier that day at the age of 88.
“It’s an opportunity for us to come together as a family of faith to remember Pope Francis (and) to thank God for his life in ministry,” Archbishop Lori said.
Archbishop Lori recalled that during his meetings with Pope Francis over the past 12 years, he always shared how deeply the people of the Archdiocese of Baltimore loved the Holy Father. In response, the pope would always ask for prayers.
“I think this is a moment when he would want everyone to pray for him as he goes home to the Lord as a pilgrim of hope during the Jubilee of Hope,” Archbishop Lori said.
The archbishop noted that parishes throughout the archdiocese have been encouraged to offer Mass for the pope. Many began adorning the front doors of their churches with black bunting, a traditional symbol of mourning a deceased pope.
The archbishop, who expects to leave for Rome in the next few days to attend the pope’s funeral, said Pope Francis will be remembered as “a very good shepherd – as a pastor who loved in a very special way the poor, the marginalized and those who are suffering.”
“He’ll be remembered as a pope who urged the Church to reach out to those in need, to those who are alienated, to those who have never heard the Gospel, and I think he set the tone for that,” Archbishop Lori said. “He’ll be remembered as a pope who led us to embrace synodality, which is the Greek word for journeying together, listening to one another, walking together in the life of the Church.”
In an age of polarization, Archbishop Lori said, the pope called all to a new “global fraternity.”
“I think he’ll be remembered as a very, very significant Holy Father in the history of the Church,” the archbishop said.
The Mass will be livestreamed on the cathedral’s YouTube page at youtube.com/@cathedralofmary
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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